The fire pit is built, the chairs are out, the evening is cooling off. Then you light the wood and spend the next hour coughing through smoke, or watching the flames die before you have finished your first drink. Nine times out of ten, the problem is not the fire pit. It is the green wood. In this article we discuss the best firewood for fire pits and how to have a better night!
The types of wood burn changes everything. Heat, smoke, smell, how long the fire lasts, even how your backyard smells the next morning. Australia has some of the best seasoned wood in the world for a long burn time, but it also has plenty of wood you should keep well away from your fire pit. Here is how to pick the right stuff.
What makes the best firewood for fire pits?
Three main factors separate good firewood from bad: density, moisture, and the types of wood you’re burning.
Hardwoods hold more energy, so they burn slower, hotter and longer. Moisture is the enemy. Wet or green wood spits, smokes, and wastes most of its heat boiling off water instead of warming you; freshly cut wood has high moisture content and will not burn efficiently. And some timbers are simply not safe to burn, no matter how dry they are. Oak is also a great alternative.
Get those three right and properly dried wood gives you a cleaner burn with less smoke, plus a hot, long lasting fire. Get them wrong and you have a smoke machine.
Hardwood vs softwood: the short answer
For a fire pit, hardwood wins almost every time over other types of wood.
Hardwoods like redgum and ironbark are dense, and hardwood logs burn slower and produce more heat. They are what you want for a long evening around the fire. Softwoods like pine or cedar can help start fires, but they create more creosote, burn out quickly, and are best kept to kindling. Use softwood as kindling to start, then build the fire on hardwood.
The best firewood in Australia
We are spoilt for choice here. These are the standouts.
Redgum
The benchmark. River red gum is dense, has a long burn time and hot, much like oak, with high heat output and minimal smoke, and produces a beautiful bed of coals that is ideal for cooking. If you can only get one type of firewood, make it redgum. It is widely available across the eastern states and worth the slightly higher price.
Ironbark
If anything beats redgum for sheer heat and burn time, it is ironbark. It’s the best wood for long nights around the fire pit. Extremely dense and slow burning, it is a favourite through Queensland and New South Wales. It can be harder to get going, so start it on good kindling, then let it do its thing for hours.
Box (grey and yellow)
Box is another excellent dense hardwood that burns hot and clean, while ash is a comparable hardwood that burns cleanly and offers consistent heat output. Grey box and yellow box both make superb fire pit burning wood, and they are common through the southeast. A great all rounder.
Jarrah
For readers in Western Australia, jarrah is the local hero. Dense, hot, and long burning, with a lovely steady flame, though some people prefer fruitwoods for their sweet aroma in an outdoor setting. It is the WA equivalent of redgum and just as good in a fire pit when heat and burn length matter. If you can get your hands on oak or cedar, they are also good woods to burn.
Blackbutt
A solid, reliable hardwood found along the east coast. It burns well, throws good heat, and is usually easy to find. Not quite redgum, but a dependable choice.
Wood to avoid
Not all firewood is created equal, and some wood will ruin your night, your fire pit, or your health. Steer clear of:
- Treated timber or painted wood, as well as stained timber or glossy paper. It releases toxic fumes when burned. Never put old decking, pallets, or construction offcuts in your fire pit.
- Green or unseasoned wood. Freshly cut or wet wood has too much moisture, which leads to excess smoke and weak heat.
- Driftwood. The salt releases harmful chemicals when burned. Stick to other woods that don’t have such a high moisture content.
- Pine and other softwoods as your main fuel. Fine for kindling, poor for the main fire. The resin can also build up and spit.
- Anything you cannot identify. If you do not know what it is, do not burn it.
- Painted wood is nasty and can release toxic fumes and create less heat and increased smoke levels.
How to tell if wood is seasoned
Seasoned firewood has been dried out for at least six months until most of the moisture is gone, making it wood dry enough to burn well. You can spot it by a few signs:
- The ends are cracked and split, not smooth and fresh
- vIt is lighter than it looks, because the water has gone
- Two pieces knocked together make a sharp crack, not a dull thud
- Dry pieces often make a hollow sound when tapped together
- The bark is loose or falling off
- Your supplier knows how to store wood properly.
If it feels heavy, looks fresh, or thuds when knocked, it needs more drying time and is not properly dried yet.
Moisture content and why it matters
The target is firewood under 20 percent moisture content, because drier wood supports efficient burning, gives better heat output, and means less energy wasted driving off water and far more smoke for your neighbours.
If you are serious about it, kiln dried wood is a reliable option when you want wood that will burn cleaner and more efficiently, and a cheap moisture meter from the hardware store takes the guesswork out. Push the probes into a freshly split face of the log. Under 20 percent and you are good to go.
Where to buy firewood in Australia
You can buy firewood from petrol stations and hardware stores, but the best value is usually a local firewood supplier selling by the cubic metre, which also makes it easier to get the right firewood for an outdoor fire pit. Buy local where you can. Moving firewood long distances can spread pests and diseases, and some areas have restrictions on transporting it.
Buy ahead of winter if you can. Firewood gets scarcer and pricier as the cold sets in, and buying early gives you time to store firewood properly under cover with good airflow if needed.
Quick reference
Best wood for low smoke: properly seasoned dense hardwood, especially redgum, ironbark, and box. Low moisture is what keeps smoke down, so seasoning matters more than species, and properly seasoned hardwood will burn cleanly with minimal smoke.
Best wood for a long burn: ironbark first, then redgum and jarrah. Dense hardwood is the best burning wood when you want steady heat and a longer-lasting fire pit experience, because it holds its heat and coals for hours.
What is the best firewood for a fire pit?
Redgum is the best all round choice in most of Australia. It burns hot, lasts a long time, and leaves an excellent bed of coals. In WA, jarrah is the local equivalent. Not all wood is suitable for burning in a pit, and choosing the right type of wood improves the overall fire pit experience.ewood for a fire pit?
Can you burn pine in a fire pit?
Pine is fine as kindling to get a fire started, but it is poor as your main fuel. It burns fast, spits, and produces more smoke. Build your fire with fire starters on hardwood instead of green wood.
How do I know if firewood is seasoned?
Seasoned wood is lighter than it looks, has cracked ends, loose bark, and makes a sharp crack when two pieces are knocked together. A moisture gauge reading under 20 percent confirms it. It also gives less smoke and a cleaner burn than green or unseasoned wood.
Is redgum wood good for a fire pit?
Yes. Redgum is one of the best fire pit woods in Australia. It is dense, burns long and hot, and produces great coals for cooking.
Once you have the right wood sorted, the right fire pit makes all the difference. Take a look at our range of custom and portable fire pits, all 100 percent Australian made, or grab a free mockup to see your design before you buy.
