Best Firewood Rack with Cover: What Fits, What It Holds and What It Weighs

The box says half a cord, but stack 16-inch logs in that 8-foot rack and you get a third of one. "Half cord" on an 8-foot rack assumes 24-inch logs, and even the 4 ft Woodhaven below is listed as 1/4 cord (32 cu ft) only with 24-inch logs. A third of a cord of dry oak still weighs about 1,200 pounds. Pick by log length, an open-sided cover and a weight limit above your wood.

Quick pick: an 8 ft steel rack with a half cover and a listed limit over 1,700 lb.

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How much a rack really holds

The math: rack length × 4 ft high × log length, in feet, ÷ 128 cubic feet per cord.

4 ft rack, 16-inch logs: 21.3 cubic feet, 1/6 cord.

8 ft rack, 16-inch logs: 42.7 cubic feet, 1/3 cord.

12 ft rack, 16-inch logs: 64 cubic feet, 1/2 cord.

8 ft rack, 24-inch logs: 64 cubic feet, 1/2 cord.

University of Kentucky says a face cord's depth is the log length, so a "face cord" isn't a cord. One cord of 16-inch logs fills three 8 ft racks. For the season's total, see how much firewood you need for a winter.

What each rack weighs when full

University of Maryland Extension puts a cord of red oak at 3,609 lb dry and 4,988 lb green, and shortleaf pine at 2,713 lb dry.

4 ft rack: about 600 lb of dry oak.

8 ft rack: about 1,200 lb of dry oak, 1,660 lb green, 900 lb of dry pine.

12 ft rack: about 1,800 lb of dry oak.

Listed limits below run from 661 to 3,300 lb, so check before you fill it.

Half cover or full cover

Cover only the top. The EPA says to store wood off the ground with only the top covered, because covering the sides traps moisture. Cornell Extension agrees.

Half cover: made for this.

Full cover with a flap: the sides stay wrapped, so open it on dry days and keep it for seasoned wood.

Where to put the rack

Distance: Nebraska Extension says keep the main pile at least 30 feet from the house, with a day or two of wood by the door.

Ground: level, as Gsskny's listing says. On soft soil, Werph says to set each foot on a paver.

Not a fit: soft or sloped ground without pavers, or a spot tight against the house.

Which rack fits your woodpile

Oak, 8 ft: a half cover and a limit over 1,700 lb.

Partial loads: a lower limit can work, after the weight math.

Long wall: 12 ft.

Porch: 4 ft.

Bare rack: add a cover that fits its length.

Firewood racks with covers (#ad)

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VIVOHOME 8 ft Firewood Rack with Half Cover: 5.1 in off the ground. The listing shows both 2,645 and 3,300 lb. See it on Amazon

Gsskny 8 ft Firewood Rack with Half Cover: welded frame, 3,300 lb, level ground only, per the maker. See it on Amazon

Werph 12 ft Firewood Rack with Cover: 1,800 lb when bolted and level, right at half a cord of dry oak, per the maker. The cover opens in sections; fill one row less and use dry wood only. See it on Amazon

Woodhaven 4 ft Firewood Rack with Cover: made in the USA, per the maker, for the porch. Its 1/4 cord means 24-inch logs. See it on Amazon

VEVOR 8.5 ft Firewood Rack with Half Cover: budget pick. The 661 lb limit holds only about half a rack of dry oak, or two-thirds of dry pine. See it on Amazon

KHOMO 8 ft Firewood Rack Cover: cover only, rack not included. 96 × 24 × 42 in per the maker, 24 in wide over a 14 in rack. It covers the sides: dry wood only, front open on clear days. See it on Amazon

Firewood rack FAQ

What is the best firewood rack with a cover?

One that fits your logs, covers only the top and has a limit above your wood.

How much wood does an 8 ft firewood rack hold?

With 16-inch logs stacked 4 ft high, a third of a cord.

Should you cover the sides of a firewood rack?

No. The EPA says that traps moisture.

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Sources: EPA Burn Wise; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Jan. 12, 2024; University of Maryland Extension, Oct. 2010; Nebraska Extension; University of Kentucky.