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Need to stack your firewood or store it while it seasons? Here’s the ultimate guide to outdoor log holders & wood racks to keep wood tidy and dry. Whether you have a fire pit, fireplace, or wood stove we have you covered!
Sure, we got gas and electricity, but that doesn’t mean wood is obsolete. Be it a fire pit, a fireplace, or even your grill, odds are you need to keep a stockpile—and you might even need to season it. That’s where log holders and firewood racks come in.
If you’re looking for a guide to tell you why you need one of these, how to identify the best one for you, and some great outdoor-oriented picks you might want to consider, then you’re in the right place!
Outdoor Log Holders & Wood Racks to Hold Your Wood, Keep It Dry
Have you heard of seasoning? It’s got nothing to do with salt or pepper—rather, it denotes a time-honored practice of letting firewood sit for at least a season (it can be two years, in some cases), so any residual moisture within will evaporate.
Using dry firewood is essential for an efficient burn, with reduced smoke; for this reason, the last thing you want to do is to place it on bare ground, where it can absorb water—or attract bugs—and, sooner or later, go to waste.
You should also stack it in such a way that there are little spaces between one log and its neighbors, to promote airflow and make the process more efficient.
The two names are somewhat interchangeable; if you look for one of the terms, you will likely find the other somewhere in the same article.
That said, ‘log holder’ is usually applied for smaller ones that allow you to keep a light amount of firewood ready for feeding a currently ongoing fire, whereas ‘firewood rack’ frequently indicates a much larger structure that might very well hold your entire stockpile for the season.
Finding The Best Wood Racks for You
Two are the factors that you need to keep in mind when shopping for your firewood holder, which we cover below.
1. Indoors or Outdoors Use
As we mentioned before, wood is used in all sorts of places. Some are inside, some outside. The distinction is important because some firewood holders are made with materials which, while perfectly capable of fulfilling their purpose, might quickly show decay if exposed to say, rain or salty air.
That said, it is not too hard to find products among this market segment which can be used either indoors or outdoors. Generally, smaller units are geared towards indoor use (for your fireplace or stove, to name a few examples), whereas more spacious ones are usually intended for staying outside and holding your seasonal wood reserve, although there can be some exceptions.
As the title implies, we will be focusing more on the outdoors end of the market range for this article.
2. Stockpile Size
Namely, how much wood do you want to keep on reserve? It’s entirely possible, for example, to have a larger unit outside, and bring in a few logs for the fireplace which you then place in a smaller holder for your comfort. The outdoor segment is more likely to vary in size, to accommodate those who would like to have a smaller holder near their fire pit.
In summary, it boils down almost entirely to the use you want to give it: main reserve, or temporary pile; and also, where it will be used. There are still certain variations in design (which we will be covering forthwith), but those might come down to personal preference more than anything else.
Our Picks for the Best Outdoor Log Holders & Wood Racks
To make your search even easier, we have prepared a selection of products that stand out among specific categories within the firewood holder segment. One of these might just be what you need.
Best Bag-type Holder: INNO STAGE Canvas Log Carrier Bag
Sometimes, all you’re looking for is something to put your logs in. Space might be at a premium, and budget could be limited as well. If this is something you identify with, then this bag might be something worth looking at, as it perfectly fulfills its intended role, and it is also quite useful for lugging certain amounts of wood from A to B.
Buy on AmazonMade in 16oz waxed canvas, it is quite durable, resistant to tearing as well as to dirt and water. 44″ in length and with a width of 21″, it’s rather spacious, allowing you to carry or hold a decent amount of wood. Its handles are nearly 7″, and made in leather for a comfortable grip.
Pros:
- Uniquely suited for the great outdoors, as it is easy to take anywhere, built to endure the elements, and resistant to wear and tear.
- A fairly economical solution, good for those who are just starting to use wood and would rather not spend much for the time being.
- Spacious enough to carry up to 25lbs of wood, more than could easily be held in hands or arms.
Cons:
- Not so good as a permanent holding place, as it lacks the rigidity to keep the logs appropriately stacked. It is also too low to the ground, which might risk exposure to errant moisture (water spills, for example).
- Cannot be machine washed, only spot cleaned, which may make cleaning a bit more labor-intensive.
Best Log Holder With Canvas: TJ.MOREE Fireplace Log Rack With Canvas Log Carrier
This one, at a glance, may seem rather similar to the one we just covered; there is, after all, a piece of waterproof canvas involved. The principle is quite the same, in that it allows you to stack a certain—and somewhat limited—amount of wood and carry it around.
Buy on AmazonThere are, however, a few differences, starting with the canvas: whereas it is waterproof treated, this piece is not waxed, and thus not intended to take along to more rugged locations. It is also a little bit smaller, 39″ in length and 15.7″ in width.
What makes this type truly distinguish itself is the other pack of the package: a frame (which, for this model, requires assembly) for you to loop the handles on, and which keeps the canvas in place, turning it into a proper holder for your wood hauls. This way, you can take out the canvas, load it up, bring it in, place it on the frame, and you’re done.
Pros:
- Provides a suitable place for placing the wood and an optimal way to carry it, all in one fell swoop.
- Equally ideal for using by the fireplace, or next to the fire ring in the backyard.
- No color variety, but its 2 additional stamps provide a degree of aesthetic freedom.
- Can be taken along on trips; this would require repeated disassembly and reassembly, but the frame’s snap-on design makes these tasks fairly simple.
Cons:
- Limited capacity—can hold about 5 logs of average size. This also means it can’t really be used for holding the main reserve, only a night’s worth or so of wood.
- Neither the frame nor the canvas are the most rugged of their kind.
- Straps are reportedly wont to ripping after a few uses.
Best Firewood Rack Kit: Gardguard Outdoor Log Storage Rack Bracket Kit
Sometimes, no size available in the market will be the right fit for your needs. If this is your case, and you’re not afraid to do some of the work yourself, then this kit might be what you’re looking for.
Buy on AmazonThe main feature is two brackets for you to pass a few 2×4 planks through, thereby creating the frame. You get a total of 4 slots per bracket, 2 horizontal and 2 vertical.
The brackets themselves are fairly sturdy (made in steel, welded joints, weatherproof paint), but that’s not all the pack offers. Also included are 4 hooks, several screws (some for the brackets, some for the hooks), and a sealing rubber strip to apply to the area where the plank meets the bracket, for a better grip. All you need to add, is the 2×4 lumber—cut to the lengths you require—and some good old elbow grease.
Pros:
- An optimal option for enthusiastic DIYers; even those without a lot of experience should have an easy enough time putting this together.
- Allows to set the rack’s height and length to individual needs.
- Included hooks and screws provide additional options for a tool rack or similar functions.
Cons:
- The wood making up the rack will not be truly waterproof unless it is treated with an appropriate sealer before the unit is put together.
- Its frame won’t be as solid as one made of metal; this might not be a concern for many users, but it is still worth pointing out.
Best Adjustable Rack: DOEWORKS Heavy Duty Adjustable Log Bracket
Once again we find ourselves before an item bearing a striking resemblance to its predecessor, as it requires some 2×4 lumber to be acquired separately. That’s all it’s missing, however, and it’s only two of them, as the sides of the holder are made up by the two brackets’ tall, looping tops.
Buy on AmazonMade in metal, the two pieces are powder coated for optimal resilience against the elements, and the package comes with a bag to aid in transporting firewood.
This one, it should be noted, is a bit on the flimsy side: the welding is not firm, and there is also no way to seal the points between lumber and brackets. Worth reminding, as well, that the planks to be used should be waterproofed so the construct lasts longer.
Pros:
- Metal parts help boost durability, and reduce the amount of lumber (and work) involved in putting the holder together.
- Design of the brackets makes it easier to carry the whole thing around, thanks to the looped tops.
- Included log carrier bag provides additional value and ease for transporting logs, either to the holder or out of it.
Cons:
- Can only adjust length, not height; the latter might be enough for stockpiles of decent size, but it can limit its storage capacity.
- Unlike some rack kits available, this one does not offer additional items such as hooks or rubber sealer.
- Weld points are not solid, and can become undone with certain ease, per some reports.
Best Log Holder for Fire Pit: Best Choice Products Log Rack & Tool Set
If you’re fond of setting up gatherings around a fire, then this particular model might be a good fit for you: built in steel and powder coated for durability, it comes with a few built-in hooks, as well as some tools (shovel, brush, tongs, and poker) to occupy them.
Buy on AmazonThis means that, as soon as you plunk it down, you’re ready for your next fireside night, and for the cleanup to follow. Maximum weight capacity for wood is 150lbs.
Given how it is built, and the full kit it comes with, this one can also be quite useful if situated near the living room’s fireplace.
Pros:
- An ideal fit for those who are starting with a fire pit or a fireplace, as it saves the trouble of separately procuring tools—and storing them.
- Optimal weight capacity for holding enough wood to last 2 or 3 days.
- Better aesthetics than most of its outdoor counterparts.
Cons:
- Size listed on product’s literature is misleading, as it provides a length that includes the hooks on the sides; this has led to disappointment for several customers. True length, per reports, is 32″ rather than 43.
- Tools included are not top quality; one might be forced to replace them sooner than later.
Best Firewood Rack With Roof: The Woodhaven 8′ Firewood Rack With Cover
This product in particular is intended for one use only—holding your main firewood stockpile—and it comes prepared for it in nearly every respect: built in 16 gauge steel (the thickest available), with a powder coated finish and arc welded joints, it won’t come apart any time soon, and its cover for the top is designed to simply slide down as the stockpile within dwindles.
Buy on AmazonSaid cover, made in reinforced vinyl, does not go all the way down, which is intended for letting air flow freely through the logs. Full size is 96 x 14 x 48, which makes it an optimal size to hold a decent amount of wood without occupying too much space—although that will ultimately depend on individual needs.
Pros:
- Widely praised for being solidly built, without the sort of swiveling that can often be observed in similar items.
- The sliding cover preserves the stockpile from falling rain while allowing air currents to flow through the wood unimpeded.
- Easy to put together; at most, one might need a hammer at some point, per reports.
Cons:
- Per size, it holds only about a third of a cord, which might be too little for houses that heavily depend on wood for heat and other tasks.
- Its make, size and features do not come cheap; this one is priced about three times higher than many other similar products.
Closing Summary
When stocking up firewood, keeping it dry is important; this means it must be off the ground, and preserved from the rain. The latter point might be less relevant when you’re just holding wood for a single session (or it is inside), but it becomes more important if this is your main reserve, and therefore intended to sit outside. As mentioned before, your choice of log holder will greatly depend on its planned purpose; we hope that this article provided a solid base for your decision making.
