This DIY Firewood Shed Is Practical, Weatherproof, and Surprisingly Easy to Build

A warm and cozy wood-burning fire, whether inside a fireplace or in a backyard fire pit, can be a delightful addition to an evening with friends any time of the year. But storing firewood properly so that it’s dry and ready can be a challenge for new woodfire fans. While you can always buy a firewood holder, making one yourself is a fairly simple DIY project, and you’ll be able to pick the size, shape, and look you want. We're big fans of this A-frame version built by Armita and Soheil from whynotwesaid.

“We wanted something outdoors that would keep the firewood dry, well-ventilated, and easy to access during winter, without taking up too much space,” says Armita. “Overall, it’s probably been one of the most fun and easiest DIY projects we’ve done. We’re even thinking about building a smaller version just for kindling and smaller pieces of wood, almost like creating a little 'mountain range' of A-frames.”

What to learn how you can make a well-designed firewood holder like this? Here's everything you need to know.

Why Choose an A-Frame Design?

An A-frame design is a traditional triangular building shape that’s intuitively associated with rustic settings. The simple shape and minimalist structure offers an abundance of internal storage space for firewood. Plus, the shape of the A-frame allows you to easily enlarge or reduce the size of the pieces without having to do a ton of math. 

“We liked the simplicity of the A-frame shape and how it looks, so it felt like a good fit for what we needed,” said Armita. “It’s a straightforward design, works well in all kinds of weather, and doesn’t take up much space. We liked it enough that we ended up building a couple of them.”

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How to Build an A-Frame Firewood Shed

To build an A-frame firewood shed, Armita recommends using pressure-treated wood. If you don't have access to pressure-treated wood, you'll need to stain and seal the wood pieces. “We originally planned to use pressure-treated wood for everything, but we ran out and ended up mixing in regular spruce for some of the framing,” says Armita. 

After laying out the shape of each of the two A-frame triangles with three pieces of pressure-treated wood, you'll build the rest of each frame. With an overall height of seven feet, the bottom of the smaller firewood shed is eight feet long with a 40 inch depth. The larger firewood shed is nine feet tall with a bottom length of nine feet and a depth of 50 inches. 

Since the shape is a triangle, the most important part is laying out the angles of the two side pieces so they fit snugly against each other at the top and with the bottom piece of the frame. If you have the space in a garage or driveway, it’s easiest to lay the frame pieces flat and then mark them before cutting the ends. And then use the first set as a template to mark the second set of frame pieces. 

Tip: “We did a lot of the framing in the garage, but even just the framed sections can get heavy and awkward to move. If you have the space, building it directly on site can actually be simpler,” says Armita.

While Armita and Soheil didn't do this themselves, they recommend using screws in key framing areas so you can more easily modify or take apart the A-frame later on, if needed. “We’d also raise the shed a bit higher off the ground, especially for winter and snow buildup.”

To clad the shed, use pressure-treated or stained and sealed wood.

Tip: “If you’re using regular lumber instead of pressure-treated wood, it helps a lot to stain or seal it before installation, especially if the shed is on the larger side. It’s much easier to do that while everything is still flat and accessible,” Armita says.

You can watch the entire build on their YouTube channel. 

What is the capacity of the firewood shed?

One of the A-frames holds about two cords of wood, which is what Armita and Soheil use during a typical year. “It’s mainly for supplemental heat in winter rather than our primary heating source,” says Armita. “We currently have one indoor fireplace in the living room and nothing outdoors yet. The basement already has the venting in place, so adding a small wood stove there is something we’re considering down the line.”

How long did it take to build?

“In total, it took around two to three days for both sheds, though not working full-time because of the weather,” says Armita. “The framing was mostly done in the garage, with the remaining work completed outdoors.” 

However, if you plan to build this firewood shed by yourself or if you don’t have a lot of DIY experience, make sure to allow for at least double the amount of time to complete the project. “It’s definitely possible to build it on your own, but having an extra set of hands makes the whole process faster and a lot easier especially when lifting and positioning the frame.”