Ready to Burn Explained: UK Firewood Moisture Rules

The Ready to Burn firewood rules are the reason you now see a green logo on bags of logs and cannot buy small quantities of wet wood in England. Since 2021 it has been illegal to sell wood in small volumes unless it is certified dry, and the scheme catches out both buyers who do not know what the logo means and sellers who do not realise the law applies to them. This guide explains exactly what the rules require, the moisture limit and the volume threshold that decide whether they apply, what the certification means when you are buying, and what a seller has to do to stay compliant.

What the Ready to Burn rules actually say

The rules come from the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 1 May 2021. The core requirement is simple: wood fuel sold in volumes of under 2 cubic metres in England must be certified as Ready to Burn, which means it has a moisture content of 20% or less.

The aim is to cut the smoke and fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) that wet wood produces when burned, which is linked to serious respiratory and cardiovascular harm. Dry wood at or below 20% burns hotter, cleaner and more efficiently, so the rule is as much about getting more heat from your logs as it is about air quality. The full regulations are on legislation.gov.uk if you want the exact wording.

The 2 cubic metre threshold

The volume you buy or sell decides how the rules apply, and this is the part people get wrong.

Under 2 cubic metres: the wood must be certified Ready to Burn, carrying the logo and a supplier ID. This covers almost all retail firewood: nets, bags, crates and small loose loads.

2 cubic metres or more: the wood does not have to be certified, but the seller must give the customer clear advice on how to store, season and check the moisture of the wood so it is dry before burning. The logic is that people buying in bulk are usually seasoning it themselves, so the law asks the seller to hand over the know-how instead of a certificate.

If you buy a large load of unseasoned logs to dry yourself, that is legal, but you are then responsible for getting it below 20% before you burn it. A moisture meter is the only reliable way to know when it is ready.

What the logo means when you are buying

For buyers, the Ready to Burn logo is a genuine shortcut. It tells you the wood has been certified to contain no more than 20% moisture, so it is dry enough to burn cleanly and efficiently straight away, with no seasoning needed. Every certified product carries the logo and a unique supplier ID.

The scheme is administered by Woodsure on behalf of Defra, and it has teeth: suppliers are audited annually, samples are collected through mystery-shopper purchases and moisture-tested, and point-of-sale information is checked. That means the logo is not just a sticker; it is backed by testing. If you see logs sold in small quantities without it in England, the seller is breaking the law, and there is a fair chance the wood is wetter than claimed. You can look up certified suppliers on the official Ready to Burn site.

How sellers stay compliant

If you sell firewood in England, here is what compliance looks like in practice.

To sell wood in units under 2m³, you must be certified through Woodsure’s Ready to Burn scheme. That means your wood is tested to confirm it is at or below 20% moisture, you display the Ready to Burn logo and your supplier ID on packaging or point-of-sale material, and you accept the annual audit and mystery-shop testing. Selling small volumes of uncertified or wet wood risks enforcement action from your local authority.

If you only sell in volumes of 2m³ and above, you do not need certification, but you must provide written advice to customers on drying, storing and checking the moisture of the wood before burning. Keep that information clear and available at the point of sale.

The practical route to compliance for most small sellers is to season properly and prove it. Split and stack the wood off the ground with good airflow, give it the time it needs (typically a year or more for hardwood), and check batches with a moisture meter before sale. See our guide to what moisture firewood should be and how to use a moisture meter on firewood for the method.

A note on smoke control areas

The Ready to Burn rules are separate from smoke control area rules, and both can apply at once. Ready to Burn governs what wood can be sold anywhere in England. Smoke control areas, which cover most towns and cities, additionally require you to burn only authorised fuels in a Defra-exempt appliance. So in a smoke control area you need both dry, certified wood and the right stove. Burning dry wood does not exempt you from the appliance rules.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Ready to Burn rules for firewood in the UK? In England, under the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) Regulations 2020, wood sold in volumes under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn, meaning 20% moisture or less. Wood sold in 2 cubic metres or more does not need certification, but the seller must give advice on drying and storing it. The rules took effect on 1 May 2021.

Is it illegal to sell wet wood in the UK? In England it is illegal to sell wet wood in volumes under 2 cubic metres unless it is certified Ready to Burn at 20% moisture or less. You can still sell larger volumes of unseasoned wood for the buyer to season, but you must provide instructions on how to dry and check it before burning.

What does the Ready to Burn logo mean? It means the wood or manufactured solid fuel has been certified to contain no more than 20% moisture, so it is dry enough to burn cleanly and efficiently without seasoning. Certified products carry the logo and a unique supplier ID, and suppliers are audited and sample-tested annually by Woodsure on behalf of Defra.

Can I still buy logs to season myself? Yes. You can legally buy loose wood in volumes of 2 cubic metres or more that is not certified, then season it yourself. The seller must give you advice on drying and storing it, and it is then your responsibility to get it below 20% moisture, best confirmed with a moisture meter, before you burn it.

Does Ready to Burn apply in Scotland and Wales? The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) Regulations that create the Ready to Burn requirement apply in England. Scotland and Wales have their own air quality and solid-fuel arrangements, so always check the rules for your nation. The 20% moisture target for clean burning is good practice everywhere.

How do I check my firewood is under 20% moisture? Use a firewood moisture meter. Split a log and press the pins into the freshly exposed inner face, not the weathered outside, then take a few readings. A reading of 20% or less means it is ready to burn. Our moisture meter buying guide explains how to choose one and use it accurately.