(02) 9450 2215
(02) 9450 2215
Firewood pricing in Sydney varies significantly depending on the species, volume, seasoning and supplier. Whether you're after cheap firewood for occasional use or premium Ironbark for whole-home heating, here's exactly what to expect to pay and what to watch out for.
Every winter, Sydney homeowners across the Northern Beaches and the upper and lower North Shore, head online searching for firewood for sale only to find prices that range wildly from $100 to $400 or more per cubic metre. So what's actually a fair price and what does a "cord" of firewood even mean in Australia?
Let's break it down clearly so you can buy with confidence this season.
A "cord" is a North American unit of measurement for firewood, equal to a stack of wood measuring 4 feet × 4 feet × 8 feet approximately 3.6 cubic metres. In Australia, firewood is not typically sold by the cord. Instead, Sydney suppliers sell by the cubic metre (m³), by the tonne, or by the bag or crate for smaller quantities.
Australia doesn’t use cords, but if you’re used to that measure, think about 3 to 4 cubic metres of neatly piled hardwood instead. Priced in Sydney today, what matches a full cord could run from six hundred up to fourteen hundred dollars. The exact amount shifts with wood type and who delivers it.
Firewood prices in Sydney vary depending on how you purchase it and the type of wood. For smaller quantities, bags or small loads typically range between $13-$50, making them suitable for occasional use, apartments, or testing a supplier. The most common buying option for homeowners is per cubic metre, which generally costs between $200-$400 for split hardwood. Bulk buyers can opt for per tonne pricing, usually ranging from $130-$350, which works well if you have storage space. For larger requirements, a full cord equivalent (around 3.5 m³) costs approximately $600-$1,400, depending on the wood type such as Ironbark, Red Gum, or mixed hardwood.
Here’s a breakdown of common firewood types, their pricing and best use cases:
Ironbark
Avg Price: $300-$400 per m³
Value: Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Whole-home heating and overnight burns
Red Gum
Avg Price: $250-$350 per m³
Value: Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Slow combustion heaters and long evenings
Yellow Box / Grey Box
Avg Price: $230–$320 per m³
Value: Very Good ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Open fireplaces and visible flame
Australian Mixed Hardwood
Avg Price: $190–$280 per m³
Value: Great Value ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: General use and regular fireplace users
Cheap / Softwood Mix
Avg Price: $100–$180 per m³
Value: Poor ⭐⭐
Best for: Outdoor fire pits only (avoid indoor use)
Searching for cheap firewood in Sydney is understandable. Firewood is a seasonal expense that adds up quickly. But buying the cheapest firewood available often means getting poorly seasoned, low-density wood that delivers less heat, more smoke and a shorter burn time. You end up buying more volume to achieve the same warmth.
Two cubic metres of poor mixed softwood at $130 each won't heat your home as well or for as long as one cubic metre of excellent Ironbark at $380. Firewood that is good quality is an investment, not an expense.
That being said, you don't always have to pay the most. For most Sydney houses that use their fireplace regularly but not as their only source of heat, well-seasoned Australian Mixed Hardwood in the $200–$260 per cubic metre range is a great deal.
Picking up firewood from a local supplier like Ace Landscapes in Belrose is typically the most cost-effective option; you save on delivery charges and can inspect the wood before loading.
Delivery services are widely available across Sydney including the Northern Beaches, Hornsby and the Hawkesbury region, with most suppliers charging a variable delivery fee based on distance from their yard.
High moisture content in green or freshly cut wood means bad heat and too much smoke.
You can get softwood filler if you don't know what kind of "mixed wood" you're getting.
Very inexpensive firewood is sold on the side of the road, but there is no way to tell if it has been seasoned, treated, painted, or made from hazardous wood that is banned to use in fireplaces.
💡 Buying Tip: What to Ask Your Supplier
Always ask: What species is the wood? How long has it been seasoned? What is the moisture content? A reputable supplier will answer these questions confidently. Properly seasoned hardwood should have moisture content below 25%.
Sydney's winters are milder than inland NSW, but evening temperatures regularly drop to single digits on the Northern Beaches and in the Hills District from June through August. Here's a rough guide based on usage:
Occasional use (1–2 fires per week):
0.5–1 m³ per season
Regular use (3–4 fires per week):
1.5–3 m³ per season
Primary heating source (daily use):
4–6 m³+ per season
If in doubt, it's better to buy slightly more than you think you'll need at the start of winter as firewood stores well if kept dry, covered and off the ground and you won't pay a premium for a repeat delivery order mid-season, for more details connect with us today.
The "cord" measure isn't used much in Australia, however the same amount of premium seasoned hardwood, like Ironbark or Red Gum, would cost between $700 and $1,400 in Sydney, depending on the type and seller. You can get mixed hardwood equivalents for between $600 and $900.
Budget mixed hardwood or softwood blends can be found for $100–$180 per cubic metre in Sydney. However, for indoor heating, these are rarely good value they burn faster, produce more smoke and deliver far less heat per load than seasoned hardwood. For outdoor fire pits, they're adequate.
Yes, Ironbark is well worth the extra money for most people who use a closed fireplace or a combustion heater. Because it is so dense, it burns hotter and longer per log than cheaper types. You usually consume a lot less volume over the course of a whole winter, so the cost per unit of heat is around the same or better than cheaper options.
Ace Landscapes & Turf Supplies at 190 Forest Way, Belrose stocks quality seasoned firewood available for pickup or local delivery. We're open Monday to Saturday from 7am and Sunday from 8am. Call us on (02) 9450 2215 to check current stock and pricing.
Bunnings sells small pre-packaged bags of firewood, which are convenient for occasional use but are significantly more expensive per kilogram than buying in bulk from a landscape or firewood supplier. For regular fireplace use, buying by the cubic metre from a local supplier as it offers far better value.
Yes. Ace Landscapes offers firewood delivery across Sydney's Northern Beaches, the North Shore and the Eastern Suburbs from our Belrose yard. Contact us directly on (02) 9450 2215 or visit acelandscapes.com.au to enquire about delivery availability and pricing to your area.