15 Easy DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Ideas to Keep Wood Dry

In my home, we use a lot of firewood. During the cold winter months, we have a wood stove that we burn to keep our home nice and cozy. We also have a fireplace in our basement that we burn during the holidays when we have guests over. Both of these devices take a lot of wood to operate all winter, but we also use firewood during the summer when we have bonfires in our back yard. Nothing is more enjoyable than toasting marshmallows over a fire and having smores with your kids in the evening.

As you can imagine, with that type of firewood usage, we typically have piles of firewood lying around throughout the year. We used to keep our firewood in the basement, but this year we got two full cords of wood at once, and there was literally no room to store it all inside. We had to put some of the firewood on our patio, but keeping it dry so that it would burn properly would be a challenge.

I decided to build a rack to store the firewood outside, and as I looked into the different DIY outdoor firewood rack ideas that I could create, I found quite a few that I loved. Let’s look at some of the DIY outdoor firewood rack ideas that caught my eye.

How to build a durable DIY outdoor firewood rack on a budget?

Designing and planning your DIY outdoor firewood rack

Determine the quantity of firewood you wish to keep. Common lengths are between 4 and 8 feet. For safety reasons, you should pick a location that is both easily accessible and away from your house.

Materials for the DIY firewood rack

• For longevity, treated lumber is a great option. It’s likely that the frame and posts will require 2x4s.
• Hardware to keep wood off the ground: weather-resistant screws, corner braces, and possibly metal tubes for the foundation.
• You’ll need a saw, screwdriver, measuring tape, level, and drill.

Steps to build your own DIY outdoor firewood rack

1. Slice the wood: Cut your 2x4s into the desired shape. Four posts for the corners and extra components for the sides, base, and back are usually required.
2. Put the base together: Using 2x4s, make a rectangle base that is square and level.

affix vertical posts: Fasten the base’s corner posts firmly. These are going to hold up your rack’s sides.

3. Construct the back and sides: To build the sides and back, place more 2x4s horizontally between the posts. Allow spaces for the flow of air.
4. Incorporate bracing: Place diagonal braces in the corners to increase stability.

Add the finishing touches to your DIY outdoor firewood rack

Sand any uneven edges and apply paint or stain to preserve the wood and improve the appearance of the DIY outdoor firewood rack. Consider using a tarp or a specially made cover to shield the wood from snow and rain.

How to keep firewood dry on your porch?

In the area of your porch that receives the least amount of rain or snow, place your firewood rack. For extra safety, it should be next to the house’s wall or behind an overhang.

Make sure the ground is not in direct touch with your firewood. You can do this by constructing a firewood rack with raised slats. By raising the wood, you can stop ground moisture from penetrating it.

Build a straightforward outdoor firewood rack out of pallets or treated lumber. It should be strong and roomy enough to accommodate your firewood while also letting air flow through. To encourage airflow, arrange the wood so that the pieces are not firmly packed together.

Use a firewood cover or waterproof tarp to cover the top of the firewood to keep it safe from snow and rain. To preserve adequate air circulation, make sure the cover is only covering the top portion of the pile and not the sides.

If feasible, set the rack where it will receive some daytime sunlight. Sunlight keeps the firewood dry and stops the growth of mold.

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15 Creative DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Ideas for Storage

1. A Wooden Storage Shed Setting on Bricks

If you need a practical outdoor firewood rack that still looks decorative, consider building this attractive wooden shed. There’s a closed in storage area to use as you please, and for the firewood, they remain covered yet accessible from either side. There is ample room to stack them up so you can stock plenty. At the same time, the overall appearance balances modern and rustic with it all being built on brick. This also gives it some handy durability so the shed should last you.

2. A Tall DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Add-On for Your Patio

With this design, you can store your firewood in a traditional way yet in a built container that blends in with the rest of your outdoor décor. There’s more than enough room for the stacked firewood to fit without it all looking clustered. In fact, this comes across as looking like a decorative piece rather than a place to keep your firewood safe and ready when you need it. Set this up near your patio and no one would think it didn’t come pre-built with the rest of the house.

3. Easy DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Ideas

If you have some larger firewood to store, then you need more spacious firewood racks. This outdoor rack features an open design that makes it easy to fit larger pieces of wood. It is rather straightforward too. But at the same time, this type of design is perfect for the minimalistic setting. Also, it works out well if you need something that isn’t so wide if you don’t have the room for bulky firewood storage set up.

4. A Movable DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Outdoors

A good way to not only store your dry logs but also move them with ease when needed is to store them all on a movable rack. The rack is heavy-duty in design to support numerous firewood. Additionally, the powder-coated setup on the rack ensures it will last in various outdoor conditions. It is the perfect way to ensure your outdoor get-togethers go by in a breeze since you can always keep the firepit going with the wood within reach and move it out of the way when not needed.

5. Rustic Natural Wood Firewood Rack that’s Curved

Seeking an outdoor firewood rack cover that also has a more contemporary-like area to store the wood in? Then check out this sleek, curved storage rack. The curved design allows you to set up your wood in a unique way that keeps it secure and stylish at the same time. The wood remains covered too so there’s little worry about it surviving in different elements. On the other hand, by also having that open layout, it’s no issue to reach in and grab what you need.

6. DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack at your Backyard Fire Pit

Some of the best firewood racks blend in effortlessly with the rest of your décor. This design is a wonderful example of that. If you have a fire pit, you can benefit from wood storage with an eye-catching design featuring the bench that surrounds your pit. This way, the wood is always where you need it to be. At the same time, you’re not sacrificing any of your outdoor décors to store your firewood. So, you’re left with something functional and fashionable.

7. A Firewood Rack with Space for Kindling

Why not have a firewood holder that can also support your kindling? If you light a firepit often, then this rack design may benefit you the most. It is rather simple but more than effective. The firewood itself has some slight cover to it thanks to the extra shelf on top for the kindling. Also, although this can hold quite a bit of wood, this is among the more space-saving firewood racks you can build. It has a slimmer profile so you can easily fit this off to the side.

8. A Wooden DIY Storage Shed for Firewood

Adding a wooden shed to your background is a wonderful way to keep up with a rustic layout and create a secure space for your firewood. There’s a good amount of width to this piece for your stacked firewood, allowing you to store a lot so you’re ready for whatever you need this for. It’s completely open in front for easy access, and this has a lovely roof for proper coverage. There’s a nice slat design in the wood for the shed too for that extra bit of style.

9. Outdoor Firewood Rack for a Small Space

For anyone with an issue with space, you can still have cool firewood racks to keep the wood out of the way and close by all at once. This miniature storage area is perfect with the dark stained wood standing out to give it a decorative flair. The rack is cute and can tuck into any corner on a backyard deck or patio. There’s just enough room for some mild storage of firewood. So, you can still enjoy a firepit in a small space.

10. Natural Wood DIY Outdoor Firewood Rack Ideas

Using natural wood as a base to store your firewood is simply a lovely idea in terms of decorating. It’s straightforward, but the natural wood has a compelling look about it that allows it to blend with your décor. This firewood holder is great for small spaces as well as you can slide it up against the house or other storage area outside with ease. This way, it’s still seen, but it isn’t obnoxious for those of you that lack the room.

11. A Firewood Rack Protected from the Rain

This firewood storage shed is beautifully designed in a simplistic manner. It’s spacious and capable of housing not just a lot of wood, but also plenty of oversized dry logs. There’s a stylish wooden slack style going on with this, and the slanted roof helps this not be so one-dimensional. Instead, there is some rustic personality to this storage area so that it blends well with your backyard setup. The single separation bar in the middle does well to add more to the overall style of the shed too.

12. An Outdoor Counter with Storage Space

A cool way to store your firewood logs is by transforming the storage into something else functional like a table or outdoor counter. Not only does the wooden storage area look good, but the top section features a powder-coated grate that further leans the piece into the rural, rustic style. Additionally, this design is ideal if you need storage with a small footprint. It won’t take up much room, and you can still have some counter space for your outdoor parties.

13. A V-Shaped Wood Rack Stabilized with Cinderblocks

Need to store some kindling or smaller pieces of firewood? Then using a v-shaped wooden storage rack is a nice way to go about it. It is certainly distinctive, and it can help give your outdoor area a stylish look that gets people talking. Plus, it’s insanely easy to grab the wood you need for a firepit this way. The cinderblocks are a great finishing touch to not just keep everything secure, but to also provide your handmade storage area an extra embellished point.

14. Vertically Stacked Storage Space and Firewood Rack

Sometimes, you don’t really need to build much to house your firewood. Instead, you can use some cinderblocks stacked up to create a makeshift firewood storage area. There’s an incredible amount of room in each one to hold a good handful of wood. Also, they aren’t difficult to remove when the time comes. You can stack as many as you’re comfortable with, and you can rest easy knowing these just won’t topple in the wind thanks to the secure base.

15. Round Storage Rack for Firewood and Kindling

As far as unique firewood racks go, this one is stunning. It takes a circular approach, instantly standing out thanks to its shape alone. Meanwhile, the use of metal instantly stands out and gives your space a more industrial look. The wood serves as décor too as it adds that outdoorsy, rural appearance. This does well at separating the firewood from the kindling too so that everything you need has its own place and is ready to grab at a moment’s notice.