Best garden log stores to protect wood all year-round

Stock up for the cold weather with a selection of the best garden log stores.

Best log stores

by Hannah Mellin |
Updated on

if you're looking for a garden log store to help keep you cosy in the warm months, we're here to help. As the cold weather starts to set in, those lucky enough to have open fireplaces and stoves in their homes will likely be stocking up on dry wood to get them through the winter months. However, the more dry wood we use, the more we find piles of wood building up inside the home, which is why many choose to bulk-buy wood and use a garden storage solution like a garden log store.

Outdoor log storage solutions are a fantastic way of keeping wood dry in wet weather and are cost-effective as you can either chop down wood yourself or bulk buy the wood and store it in the months leading up to winter - saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Best garden log stores at a glance:

Best large garden log store: Garden Trading Aldsworth Log Store - View now on Garden Trading
• Best log storage with cover: VOUNOT Firewood Log Rack with Cover - View now on VOUNOT
• Best value garden log store: Samuel ALEXANDER Wood Store - View now on Amazon UK

Log stores aren't only used in winter months, as many choose to use wood for BBQs and fire pit tables or pot-bellied chimineas. In this buyer's guide, we've rounded up the best garden log stores on offer, from wooden stores to ones made of metal.

Best garden log stores for your wood pile

Best large garden log store

To burn efficiently and safely, logs are best kept dry, with this storage unit you can keep your winter stock in the best possible state as this larger log store will do just that. Made from spruce, the wood is smooth and robust, and the dark grey stain makes it stand out from the crowd.

This store is designed to be placed up against a garden wall and the brand recommends positioning this in a sheltered area to prolong its life. Reviewers praise this store for its sturdy construction, large log capacity, and for how simple it is to assemble.

Pros

  • Reviewers state this is robust and sturdy
  • Sloped roof to protect from rain

Cons

  • Will need to be put in a sheltered area to be fully weatherproof
Dimensions: H150 x W150 x D73cm
Material:Spruce

Best garden log storage with cover

VOUNOT Firewood Log Rack with Cover, Metal Log Store OutdoorVOUNOT

The only way to be sure that your logs will stay dry in your garden log storage is to cover it completely, as even storage units with roofs can take a battering in awful weather. This log rack from Vounot comes with a protective polyethylene tarpaulin.

This has a durable metal tubular frame and its base is raised off the ground to prevent damp from seeping into your log pile. Measuring in at two metres wide this is capable of holding up to 200 kilograms of wood. As one reviewer puts it, this isn't exactly pretty to look at, but it does the job.

Pros

  • Keeps wood off the ground to prevent damp
  • Robust protective polyethylene tarpaulin

Cons

  • Not the most attractive option
Dimensions:200 x 36 x 116cm
Material:Steel

Best value garden log store

Samuel ALEXANDER Wood Store Samuel ALEXANDER

If you're after a garden log store that won't break the bank, this simple but effective design from Samuel ALEXANDER will do the job. Made from treated wood with a waterproof stain, the store comes with a felt roof that has a sloping design to allow rain to run off.

Another feature that will ensure this store will be able to withstand bad weather is the raised floor to prevent damp. The slat design of the structure allows for ventilation so wet logs can better dry out. This comes flat packed and requires assembly with one reviewer advising to use more screws than supplied to make it more sturdy.

Pros

  • Sloping, felt roof to shield your wood from rain
  • Natural finish wood frame will suit most gardens

Cons

  • May need to be covered during very rainy weather
Dimensions:123cm x 115cm
Material:Wood

Best small garden log store

The Woodstock Original Circular Log Store SmallParker & Coop

If you're not looking to store large piles of logs or don't have the space, this small round garden log store is cute and handy - especially for storing modest amounts of wood for BBQs or a fire pit. This artisan option is made from rolled steel and welded by the creators in Hampshire.

This comes with an attractive, aged, rusty steel finish or you can pay £50 extra for an aluminium powder-coated finish. This little log store will be happy sitting on the ground, but if you want to make it a focal point in your outdoor space it can be bolted to a wall.

Pros

  • Compact, so great for small spaces
  • Attractive, artisan looks means this is a decorative choice

Cons

  • If you want to hang it you may need a professional to help
Dimensions:H 50cm x D 25cm
Material:Metal

Best heavy-duty garden log storage

Rutland County Garden Furniture Normanton 4ft Tall Log Store/Garden Storage Heavy Duty Pressure Treated Timber With Forward Sloping RoofRutland County Garden Furniture Store
Price: £364.99

Got the space for the ultimate garden log storage? This Rutland County Garden storage is heavy-duty and made for storing logs all year round. Ideal for larger volume log storage, this provides a strong, robust, and aesthetically pleasing garden storage solution.

This is made from high quality Northern European pressure treated Redwood timber from FSC-approved sustainable sources. It has an elevated base and a gap at the top of the back panel to aid air flow. This is available as the simple log store frame we're featuring, or in different configurations including options with kindle shelves and with doors.

Pros

  • Very sturdy construction with chunky corner posts
  • Available in various different designs to suit your needs

Cons

  • Definitely a two-person job to assemble
Dimensions:2.3 x 0.75 x 1.25 metres
Material:High-quality pressure-treated timber from FSC-approved sustainable sources 

Best garden log storage with lid

Zest Log Chest One Garden

Made from high quality, pressure treated timber from FSC-certified, managed resources, this chest-style garden storage is perfect for ensuring your wood stays dry and protected. It has a large footprint, measuring in at 1.7 metres long and 75cm deep, meaning it can hold a good amount of wood.

The open slatted design allows for ventilation, so it's a good choice for anyone looking to season their own logs. Reviewers say this is relatively easy to put together, but suggest investing in a separate base for this to sit on in order to keep it off any damp ground.

Pros

  • Reviewers report this is easy to build
  • Overlapping feather-edged boards on the lid

Cons

  • One reviewer felt it needed to have chains to hold the top open
Dimensions:1.8m (5ft 10in) wide
Material:Wood

Best narrow garden log store

Wooden Log Store Narrow SmallGarden Chic

If you've got a smaller outdoor space this narrow log store, with its upright design, has a compact 64cm by 66cm footprint but will still store more than enough wood to keep you going through the cold months. This is handmade in the UK, comes fully assembled, and is delivered free of charge.

This is crafted from responsibly sourced FSC-certified Scandinavian redwood that's been fully treated to protect it from the elements. We're fans of the separate shelf under the sloped roof area - this is ideal for storing your essential kindling.

Pros

  • Includes a separate shelf area for kindling
  • This store comes fully assembled

Cons

  • Slats have wide gaps so needs to be sheltered
Dimensions:2 x 2ft
Material:Responsibly sourced FSC certified Scandinavian redwood

How we chose the best garden log stores

All of these garden log stores have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the size, capacity, and build quality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching all types of log stores to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.

What is a garden log store?

A garden log store is typically a wooden structure made of (preferably) FSC-certified wood that is treated to prevent rot and dampness, although metal framed versions are available. They normally have a raised platform, a roof and two sides in order to be able to stack wood. Some garden log stores have lids, doors, or covers.

They vary in size too, ranging from the same size as a garden shed to a smaller narrower option. Some come with shelves to make it easier to stack the wood and offer a separate storage area for kindling.

Where should I position my garden log store?

This obviously depends on the layout of your outdoor space, but our wish-list for where to place a log store is as follows:

In as sheltered a spot as possible to increase the wood's chances of being dry.

Out of prevailing wind to protect it from the elements.

A south-facing location will mean your wood naturally dries in the sun.

Against a wall, garage, shed, or even garden greenhouse to keep it tucked away.

As near to your backdoor as possible so you don't have to traipse across the garden to get wood.

What wood can be stored in a log store?

You can store any type of wood in garden log store, but be aware that some wood needs a lot more time to dry than others, although if you opt for already kiln-dried logs these can be used straight away.

Experts say hardwoods such as ash, oak, birch, or beech are generally the best wood for burning and are recommended over softwoods like pine.

What to read next:

The best wheelie bin storage for your garden

Best wooden fencing to upgrade your garden boundary

Shed organisation: How to get the most out of your outdoor storage

Subscribe to Modern Gardens magazine and get the most out of your outdoor space. Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice in every issue of Modern Gardens. View our latest subscription offers to save on shop prices.

Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us