How much does a cord of firewood cost in the Asheville area?
A full cord of seasoned hardwood around Asheville generally runs a few hundred dollars — green (unseasoned) wood costs less, and delivered-and-stacked loads sit at the top of that range. Prices climb every fall as demand spikes, so buying in spring or early summer almost always saves money and gets you drier wood.
Know What You're Actually Buying
A "full cord" is a specific measurement — 128 cubic feet, a stack four feet high, four feet deep, and eight feet long. That matters, because the most common way people overpay in WNC is buying a "face cord" or "rick" and assuming it's the same thing. A face cord is only one row deep — often about a third of a full cord — for not much less money.
Always pin down two things before you pay: is the price for a full cord, and is it delivered and stacked or just dumped in the driveway? Those swing the real cost more than the wood itself does.
Seasoned Costs More — and It's Worth It
Green wood is cheaper, but in our humid mountain air it needs a good six to twelve months split and stacked before it burns clean. Buy green in spring and it's ready by heating season. Buy green in October and you'll spend the winter fighting a smoky, hard-to-light fire that coats your flue with creosote — which is a chimney fire waiting to happen.
Truly seasoned hardwood (under about 20% moisture) commands a premium for a reason. If a fall price looks too good, the wood is probably still wet.
The Cord You Never Have to Buy
Worth naming the tradeoff: a lot of our customers move to a gas insert or gas logs precisely because firewood is a recurring cost and a recurring chore — money every fall, plus hauling, stacking, and keeping it dry. A sealed gas insert like a Napoleon Oakville or Kozy Heat Chaska burns at the flip of a switch with no cord to buy, no bark on the floor, and no cold-start smoke.
Wood still wins on total grid-independence — it kept people warm through Helene — so it comes down to whether you value that off-grid heat or the convenience. Our [gas vs. wood guide](/guides/gas-vs-wood-fireplace) lays out the honest tradeoffs, and you can see both burning at our Asheville showroom.
Related questions
- What local hardwoods make the best firewood in Western North Carolina?
- How long does firewood need to season in WNC's humid climate?
- When should I buy my firewood for the winter in WNC?
- Can I burn wood from trees that came down in Hurricane Helene?
- Is it cheaper to heat with wood, propane, or natural gas in Western North Carolina?
- Do I need a permit to install a gas fireplace or gas insert in Western North Carolina?
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