4 FREE Firewood Rack Plans Built from 2x4s (Two Under $30)

4 Free firewood rack plans

These 4 free firewood rack plans will help get your log organized. We’ve picked 4 popular DIY outdoor firewood rack designs and we’ve created woodworking building plans for them, free to anyone. These plans are detailed with pictures, assembly diagrams and material and lumber cutting specifications. The 3 out of 4 rack plans are built from 2x4s mainly and one involves 4x4s.

We’ve designed these plans to be as easy as possible to cut and to assemble. Also, the overall rack dimensions are planned in such way that you’ll have practically no 2×4 left-overs. Plus, all plans are on the budget.

All lumber is suggested to be purchased and cut at Home Depot. All prices are calculated for the pressure-treated lumber as this is a recommended material choice for building outside wood storage.

Pick one homemade firewood rack plan that fits your wood storage needs and matches the style of your deck or patio.

Woodworking tools needed to build a rack

Recommended tools you will need besides an electric screwdriver - a right angle tool (or angle square or framing square) to keep your uprights vertical and at least one C-clamp (with over 3″ max opening) to hold firm pieces of lumber together when driving screws in.

Recommended screws are #10 x 3" long Yellow Zinc wood screws, with two possible choices for head design. One is the most common choice - the Phillips head screws. On 3-inch length, they can be tough to drive in as they will strip a lot. The second, better choice is the T-Star head screws. Your cost is the same but for T-Star screws you'll need the T-star driving bits, and luckily they come standard with many bit sets.

You can also use these Grip-Rite #10 x 3-in Philips Head Exterior wood screws. They are a bit cheaper. We just like the Yellow Zinc screws more for cosmetic reasons.

TIP: Pre-drill holes for wood screws. It'll make your job driving the screws in so much easier, and you'll avoid potential cracks in 2x4s.

TIP: Use an outdoor glue in addition to screws in your DIY projects. It makes the construction so much sturdier.

NOTE: Because it won’t be adjustable, you must carefully plan the size of your homemade rack before cutting 2x4s.

Also, if these woodworking plans seem like too much work then you may want to check out our guide to ​Quick & Easy to Build Firewood Rack Bracket Kits.

The homemade outdoor racks capacity is best estimated in "ricks". One rick is an 8' wide by 4' high stacked pile of firewood cut into 16" length.

Check out the free plans below ...​ Cost estimates are based on average Home Depot prices for pressure-treated lumber.

Outdoor Firewood Rack Plan Built from Four 2x4s Only

Finished Design

  • Total Building Plan Cost - $25.85
  • Overall Dimensions - 4' W x 4' H x 16.5" D
  • Storage Capacity - close to half rick
Outdoor firewood rack plan built from four 2x4s only

Design Story

Bruce Johnson at Minwax decided that "after a prolonged winter, one of his firewood piles was beginning to look just a little unsightly and it was time to spruce it up a little bit by building a simple wood rack." And so he did, and his finished rack is on the photo above. We like the design, and we've created a free building plan for it - see it below..

Bruce used both an exterior wood glue and screws to assemble the wood rack from only four 2x4s. He chose not to use pressure-treated lumber, instead he protected the wood with the clear coat Minwax Helmsman Teak Oil, which also brings out the natural beauty of the wood. You can read more in his DIY Tutorial.

We’ve slightly modified his original plan to have no leftover pieces from the four 8-feet 2x4s. Isn’t it cool. And we suggest you use treated wood, to keep it cost effective ... but the choice is yours.

​Also, we raised the bottom a bit higher – it’s nice to have a meaningful gap so you can easily clean the floor underneath.

Building Plan with Detail Dimensions

Free firewood rack plan built from four 2x4s only and glued

Material Specifications / Costs

To build this very simple, inexpensive firewood rack for just under $26, this is all you need to obtain at the Depot - not much really - four 8-footer pressure-treated studs and a box of #10 x 3-in screws (see links above for screw specs).

Material Type

Qty

Unit Price

Total Price

2x4 x 8'

4

$4.47

$17.88

Box of Screws (qty - 72)

1

$7.97

$7.97

Total Cost

$25.85

Cutting Diagram

Print it out and have these simple straight cuts done at Home Depot (or by yourself), as shown below..

Assembly Plan

A step-by-step assembly plan is given on the diagram below. The steps are ordered for maximum assembly convenience while accounting for a must-have easy access to the affected work areas by an electric screwdriver.

STEP 1 - assembling one 4' high by 4' wide vertical frame as shown on the diagram above. Start by marking (in accordance with the dimensions shown on the Building Plan) and pre-drilling 4 holes at each end of the horizontal 4' plank. Using the framing square and C-clamp set the vertical studs at 90 degree and drive in 4 screws at each joint through pre-drilled holes, Repeat for the 2nd frame.

STEP 2 - connecting the 2 just assembled vertical frames using 4 Horizontal 12" Links. Mark to dimensions and pre-drill 2 holes at each end of the 4 vertical studs. Lay one frame down on hard surface. Temporary stand the 4 Links in their respective positions on the frame and lay the second frame on top of them, to sort of preliminary form the rack. (We suggest placing frames against the wall or a fence so they don't turn.) While holding firm one of the Links, drive in 2 screws through the holes pre-drilled in the top frame. Repeat for 3 remaining Links. Turn your improvised assembly upside-down and secure the 4 Links on the opposite side.

STEP 3 - attach the Horizontal 4' Link according to dimensions. Done.

DIY Log Holder Plan Built Using 2x4s and 4x4s

Finished Design

  • Total Building Plan Cost - $50.16
  • Overall Dimensions - 8' W x 49.5" H x 2' D
  • Storage Capacity - close to one rick
DIY Log Holder Plan Built Using 2x4s and 4x4s

Design Story

This free plan is for the DIY log holder (above) built from 2x4s and 4x4s by Jim & Susan, a husband & wife DIY team at Homeroad.com.

One Saturday morning, they brought a picture of a log holder they wanted to make to Home Depot. After discussing their design plan with a couple of experts there, they left home with all the necessary pressure treated boards, all cut at the store. Jim then assembled it in one afternoon. You can read their DIY Tutorial.

And their woodworking plan already got fans - another couple built a log holder from Susan's directions. The photo below shows their almost identical design.

This is actually a huge rack. It may not look as such on the photo but it’s almost 8 ft long by 4 ft high by 2 ft deep. We like the design and we've created a free building plan for it (see below). We've followed Jim and Susan's idea but with just one difference.

We believe, on a 8-foot span, the 2x4s rails will eventually sag under the load. So in our plan, the rails are made from 2×6s. Also, one potential problem with this plan is that the commonly sold 16" firewood logs will fall through the 24" open sides. So you may want to attach a few extra 24" planks to the sides.

Free DIY Log Holder Plan Built with 2×4s & 4×4s

Building Plan with Detail Dimensions

Free Log Holder Plan Built with 2×4s & 4×4s

Material Specifications / Costs

​Note: the 1×6 x 10’ boards are not commonly available as pressure-treated. They should be stained, ideally, to get preserved from the elements.

Material Type

Qty

Unit Price

Total Price

2x4 x 8'

1

$4.47

$4.47

2x6 x 8'

2

$6.77

$13.54

4x4 x 8'

2

$7.27

$14.54

1x6 x 10'    (only non pressure-treated avail.)

2

$4.82

$9.64

Box of Screws

1

$7.97

$7.97

Total Cost

$50.16

Cutting Diagram

You can have all lumber cut in the store (HD), as shown below. Notice that the two 2x6 x 8' boards (rails) are not supposed to be cut.

DIY Log Holder Plan Built with 2×4s & 4×4s - Cutting Diagram

Assembly Plan

DIY Log Holder Plan Built with 2×4s & 4×4s - Assembly Plan

For steps #1,2 and 3, pre-drill all the 'through' holes - it'll be more convenient to assemble and much easier to drive the screws in.

In STEP 2, if you're building the rack right in your backyard, you may want to lean the first frame on a fence or a wall, then get on a small stool and from this higher position, drive the screws through the Top Links into the vertical posts. It all depends on how comfortable you're. Of course, assembling this rack on a large work bench or a table would be easier but neither may be available.

In STEP 3, for convenience, I would carefully turn the partially assembled rack upside-down.

STEP 4 - attach ten 2-foot pieces (cut from the 1x6 x 10' boards) as the flooring of the firewood rack. They are spaced 3" apart (see the building plan diagram above).

You could also take a different approach. After having both Vertical Frames built, you would then attach all 4 Horizontal Links (Top and Bottom) to one Frame. Then lean that Frame against the wall and do another.

Firewood Rack Plan for Half Rick of Wood Built on Cinder Blocks

Finished Design

  • Total Building Plan Cost - $42.17
  • Overall Dimensions - 51" W x 49.5" H x 16" D
  • Storage Capacity - half rick
Firewood Rack Plan for Half Rick of Wood with Top Shelf Built on Cinder Blocks

Design Story

The designer of this plan above wanted to build a firewood rack just the right size for 1/2 rick of wood, and he did a great job. As he describes it, it was made using six(!) 2×4’s, three cedar fence pickets and about $5 worth of screws and nails, for a total cost of around $30 (including all wood, blocks & screws!!). He also bought a tarp for $5 in case he needs to cover it. His plan was placed on the Internet over 3 years ago. He goes into details here.

This is a simple but quite sophisticated firewood rack design, with a top shelf. The shelf is lined with cut cedar pickets and holds small pieces of wood, kindling & wood chunks. Very convenient. The plan is comprised of four similar frames built out of 2×4’s and raised above the ground on 3 Cinder Blocks.

When we calculated the amount of lumber needed, we realized that we can substitute one 8-footer 2x4 with a 10-footer 2x4 and have no leftovers. Then only five 2x4s is needed, not six (see our material spec below).​ With the cedar fence pickets we've found available at HD, we needed 5 of them not 3.

In overall, our free woodworking plan for this rack design follows the original dimensions (photo above) precisely.​ Still, we couldn't match his very low cost. The best we could budget it for is around $42. Also, nails are not included in the total cost.

Building Plan with Detail Dimensions

Free Firewood Rack Plan for Half Rick of Wood Built on Cinder Blocks

Material Specifications / Costs

Here, you can find details on Cedar Fence Pickets and Cinder Blocks.

Material Type

Qty

Unit Price

Total Price

2x4 x 8'

4

$4.47

$17.88

2x4 x 10'

1

$5.97

$5.97

5/8 in. x 3-1/2 in. x 4 ft. Cedar Fence Picket

5

$1.38

$6.90

Box of Screws

1

$7.97

$7.97

Cinder Blocks

3

$1.15

$3.45

Total Cost

$42.17

Cutting Diagram

To make all 15 shelf cedar liners, follow these steps. Cut 3 fence pickets into 3 equal 16" pieces each. Then cut 2 remaining 16" pieces out of the 4th picket. Use the leftover part to cut out one 13" piece. Then use the 5th picket to cut out 3 remaining 13" pieces. 

Firewood Rack Plan for Half Rick of Wood with Top Shelf - Lumber Cutting Diagram

Assembly Plan

Though this plan consists of 4 some-what similar frames, building it frame by frame and then connecting the 4 frames together would not be possible. You simply won't have enough room to maneuver an electric screwdriver while attempting to make some of the joints. Instead, follow the steps outlined in the diagram below.

Firewood Rack Plan for Half Rick with Top Shelf - Assembly Diagram

In STEP 3, first drive one screw through each end of the Bottom Link into the vertical posts, then only drive screws through the horizontal rails into the Bottom Links, two on each side of each Link.

STEP 5 - nail 4 Cedar pieces (13") to Top Shelf's Vertical Sides.

STEP 6 - nail 11 Cedar pieces (16") to Top Shelf Base, spacing them evenly.

DIY Log Rack Plan Under $30

Finished Design

  • Total Building Plan Cost - $29.42
  • Overall Dimensions - 6' W x 49.5" H x 15" D
  • Storage Capacity - 3/4 rick
DIY firewood rack plan under 30 dollars

Design Story

The designer made this firewood rack to dry and store wood for his fire pit. He had Home Depot cut the pressure treated lumber to his dimensions and he assembled it with 3" wood screws in just 45 minutes.

Watch his movie for a complete story. He got it built for just under $30.

This is actually one of the simplest but nicest outdoor DIY firewood rack designs. It has a middle support and takes only five 2x4's to make. Many people want to reproduce it but there hasn't been a detailed building plan so we've created one free one - look for it below.

When drawing our own plan that matches his dimensions, we noticed that we can save on lumber by substituting one 8-foot 2x4 with a 6-foot 2x4, and still have a small chunk of lumber left. So our free plan enables you to make this cool rack for under $30 as well.

DIY firewood rack plan under 30 dollars - base frame made with 2x4s
Patio firewood rack plan under 30 dollars

Building Plan with Detail Dimensions

Notice the two center legs that are 7.5" high.

Free DIY firewood rack plan under 30 dollars

Material Specifications / Costs

Material Type

Qty

Unit Price

Total Price

2x4 x 8'

4

$4.47

$17.88

2x4 x 6'

1

$3.57

$3.57

Box of Screws

1

$7.97

$7.97

Total Cost

$29.42

Cutting Diagram

Print and cut to the below dimensions at the Depot.

DIY firewood rack plan under 30 dollars - Lumber cutting diagram

Assembly Plan

Just like with the other 3 plans, we suggest you assemble the two identical Vertical Frames first (including the Center Legs) and then connect them with 8 cross braces (12" Links).

DIY firewood rack plan under 30 dollars - Assembly Diagram

If you don’t really have a dedicated spot for your firewood and it just ends up in a pile somewhere, one of these 4 free plans could be a great solution for you.

All plans are relatevely simple and are designed for someone who is not incredibly handy when it comes to DIY projects.

You can print our images and take them to Home Depot to have them cut the 2x4s and/or 4x4s for you. Good luck with your projects!


Here's all 4, for Your 'Pinning' convenience ... they look small but will Pin in actual large size. 

Free Firewood Rack Plan 1
Free Firewood Rack Plan 2
Free Firewood Rack Plan 3
Free Firewood Rack Plan 4
About Joe Hats 176 Articles
Joe Hats is the founder of FreshPatio.com. Joe has been remodeling homes since 1997 when he bought his first fixer-upper. He has built many pieces of indoor and outdoor furniture with his own hands and has every DIY woodworking tool in his possession. Coming from an engineering background, he has designed and built many patio fixture plans. Following his wife's lead, he is also very passionate about home decor and together they keep track of the latest trends. When he is not remodeling or trying a new woodworking tool, he is busy gardening or designing a new outdoor plan.