Firewood Quantity Calculator
Estimate how many bundles of firewood to bring or buy for a camping trip, based on nights camping and your typical usage rate per night. Usage varies a lot by fire size, weather, and how many hours you keep it burning — adjust the rate to your own habits.
How many bundles, and what they cost
Nights times rate, rounded up, because wood is sold whole:
bundles = ceiling(nights × bundles per night)
cost = bundles × price per bundleThree nights at 1.5 bundles a night is 4.5, so the answer is 5 bundles and, at $7 each, $35.00. The cost follows the rounded figure rather than the 4.5, which is right - you pay for the fifth bundle whether or not you burn all of it.
Setting your bundles-per-night rate
A shop bundle is about 0.75 cubic feet, six to eight split pieces, and burns roughly 90 minutes once the fire is going. Match the rate to the evening you actually have:
| Evening | Bundles |
|---|---|
| Short fire after dinner, 1-2 hours | 1 |
| Sitting out until bed, 3-4 hours | 2 |
| Cooking on the fire, or cold and damp | 3 |
Wet or unseasoned wood burns through far faster than dry, and an open fire ring in wind can double the rate against a sheltered pit. Kindling and a firelighter are not in the count; a bundle of split logs will not start on its own.
Frequently asked questions
How many bundles of firewood per night camping?
One to two for a typical evening fire, three if you are cooking over it or the weather is cold and wet.
How long does a bundle of firewood last?
About an hour and a half in a normal campfire. Six to eight pieces go quickly once the fire is hot, and faster still in wind.
How many bundles are in a cord of wood?
Around 170. A cord is 128 cubic feet against roughly 0.75 per bundle, which is why campground bundles at $7 work out many times the price of bulk wood.