Which Wood Should I Burn on My Fire Pit?

There’s nothing quite like being outdoors and lighting the fire pit with friends and family. But how can you make sure your evening is enjoyable and not ruined by plumes of smoke and spitting embers that make everyone run inside?

Moisture content is key

Whether you burn firewood for heating in the colder months or only burn outdoors in your fire pit or pizza oven – the same rules apply for burning efficiently while minimising smoke.

The main factor is the moisture content of the logs you are burning. Wet wood typically creates smoky fires. Energy that should be producing heat is instead used to evaporate the moisture. This drops the temperature and prevents clean combustion.

This is why logs in the UK (England specifically) are typically sold as Ready to Burn. Dry logs create far less pollution, helping to minimise the impact to the air quality for everyone. Dry logs have the added benefit of keeping your guests from fleeing from smoke when you light the fire pit!

Kiln-dried logs are ideal for fire pits and burning outdoors in general, including pizza ovens. The low moisture content and the ability to burn immediately isn’t just beneficial for cleaner winter heating.

Fire pits aren't covered by smoke control rules, but it's still worth burning as cleanly as possible.

What makes a good fire pit wood?

For fire pit burning, you’re optimising for a slightly different set of qualities - there are different considerations when burning outdoors compared to burning in a stove. The intensity and brightness of the flames, the aroma that adds to the atmosphere and the amount that each species naturally spits.

And burn-time matters less when burning outdoors as you’re typically sat nearby anyway!

While all kiln-dried hardwood would work well in a fire pit, knowing the nuances between species can help you to decide which makes sense to buy.

Birch – Our top choice for outdoor burning, dry Birch catches fire quickly and with a bright, intense flame. The distinct aroma from the oily bark is a favourite in Scandinavian and Baltic countries.

Alder – One of the cheaper hardwoods readily available as Ready to Burn.  Alder is easy to light and burns fast. Alder is a favourite for pizza ovens too due to its aromatic qualities.

Oak, Ash, Beech – These are good options and won’t let you down, however the denser wood will be a little less forgiving when it comes to lighting.  If you have some of these in your store, try splitting them into smaller pieces if you’re struggling to get a good fire going.

What about softwood?

Softwood is a reasonable choice for fire pits, but as with anything you are burning - it must be dry! The pine scent that softwood provides complements outdoor burning perfectly, however - be aware that you might be in for a slightly smokier fire that spits more embers due to the high amount of resin.

Hardwoods provide the best all-round versatility from heating your home to cooking and burning outdoors.

What not to burn

It’s important to understand what you should never burn on a fire pit. Burning untreated, dry wood should be mandatory for the health and enjoyment of you and your guests. You should never burn:

• Treated wood, including pallets
• Wet wood
• Plastic or any household waste
• Composite materials (MDF, Chipboard etc.)

Pallets in particular catch many people out. Fresh clean softwood pallets look like a good source of 'free' wood, but they're often chemically treated in ways that produce toxic fumes when burnt.

A good reason to buy in summer

Most fire pits in the UK are lit in the summer evenings, when people are enjoying the outdoors and nicer weather. Buying kiln-dried logs for your outdoor summer fires has another benefit - this is typically the cheapest time of the year to buy logs!

Stocking up in time for long summer evenings can mean you’re ready for the colder winter months with a well-filled log store and not needing to pay peak winter prices.

Enjoying your summer fire pit

Remember:

• Consider ease of lighting, intensity, aroma and spitting when choosing wood to burn in your fire pit
• You might already have a stock of dry logs – most untreated dry wood is fine, just remember to split larger pieces to reduce smoking and spitting
• Don’t be tempted to burn wood that’s wet or treated, it won’t be an enjoyable evening

A good fire pit evening is all about good fuel, decent weather, and the right company. The wood is the bit you can control!