Firewood Prices Have Skyrocketed in Ukraine: How Much Does a Cubic Meter Cost?
In Ukraine, over the past year, firewood prices from private sellers have risen by 1.5 to 2 times in some regions. Specifically, in the Kyiv region, a cubic meter of oak firewood, which cost about 1,500–2,500 UAH last year, is now selling for 3,700–4,500 UAH.
At the same time, the cost of firewood sold by state-owned forestry enterprises has risen much less—from approximately 1,140 to 1,200 UAH per cubic meter. However, the final cost may be higher due to additional expenses for delivery, loading, and preparing the wood for the heating season.
Against the backdrop of the rapid rise in firewood prices, Ukrainians are having to look for more cost-effective options for heating their homes. At the same time, wood prices may continue to rise.
The average price of hardwood firewood in the public sector rose from approximately 1,140 UAH per cubic meter in 2025 to about 1,200 UAH in 2026—an increase of only about 5%.
How much does a cubic meter of firewood cost?
The most significant price increases are observed among private sellers, especially in the Kyiv region. While last year oak firewood in the Kyiv region could be purchased for approximately 1,500–2,500 UAH per cubic meter, current offers now reach 3,700 UAH, and in some cases even 4,500 UAH per cubic meter.
Thus, for the most expensive offers, the price has effectively nearly doubled over the course of a year. Moreover, there is no single fixed market price. The cost depends on the type of wood, moisture content, harvesting and processing methods, order volume, whether the firewood is sold in bulk or stacked, and delivery costs.
For example, one seller offers a 1.4-cubic-meter crate of oak, ash, or hornbeam firewood for 12,300 UAH. Softwoods—birch and alder—can be purchased for approximately 9,000 UAH for the same volume.
Delivery costs must be added to the price. In Kyiv, this can cost several thousand hryvnias more. For example, the minimum delivery fee to the Solomyanskyi district of the capital is about 2,000 UAH. Therefore, the actual amount you’ll have to pay for the heating season may turn out to be significantly higher than the price listed per cubic meter.
Where Firewood Is Cheaper
Prices vary greatly depending on the region. Prices in the Kyiv metropolitan area are currently the highest, while in other major cities, firewood can be noticeably cheaper.
In Dnipro, oak firewood is currently selling for approximately 2,700–3,000 UAH per cubic meter. That said, the price depends on how the wood is stacked: loose firewood may cost around 2,700 UAH, while a tightly stacked cubic meter costs about 3,000 UAH.
In Lviv, hardwood can be found for approximately 1,400–2,000 UAH per cubic meter. However, one should be cautious when directly comparing prices across regions. One seller may offer pre-cut and dried firewood with delivery, while another may offer uncut logs that the buyer will have to transport, saw, and split themselves.
State-supplied firewood is significantly cheaper
Ukrainians still have the option to purchase firewood directly from state-owned forestry enterprises through the DrovaYe service. In the public sector, the pricing situation is quite different. While in 2025 the average cost of hardwood firewood was about 1,140 UAH per cubic meter, by 2026 it had risen to approximately 1,200 UAH.
In other words, the annual increase was only about 5%, which is significantly less than the price increase for private suppliers. At the same time, there is an important caveat: a low price for firewood does not necessarily mean that the buyer will get the cheapest heating.
In some cases, government-supplied firewood must be picked up by the buyer. In such cases, transportation, loading, and unloading costs are added to the price. Furthermore, if the wood is sold unprocessed, you’ll have to saw and chop it yourself, which also requires time, equipment, and money.
Therefore, private sellers can charge significantly higher prices for pre-cut firewood, since the buyer is effectively paying not only for the wood itself but also for its preparation for use. For example, some state forestry offices offer firewood at even lower prices. As of July 1, 2026, in the Halych National Nature Park, hardwoods were sold to the public for approximately 990 UAH per cubic meter, while softwoods and conifers were sold for 690 UAH.
Firewood or Gas: Which Is More Cost-Effective Now?
Against the backdrop of rising wood prices, the question arises as to whether this form of heating remains economical compared to natural gas. For a rough comparison, one can use the calorific value: one cubic meter of oak firewood, at the appropriate moisture content, can replace approximately 334 cubic meters of natural gas.
At a gas price of 7.96 UAH per cubic meter, that amount of gas would cost about 2,659 UAH. Meanwhile, a cubic meter of oak firewood in Kyiv can currently cost over 4,000 UAH.
For example, if the price is 4,300 UAH per cubic meter, then this amount of wood will be approximately 62% more expensive than the equivalent amount of natural gas based on the calculation provided. For hornbeam, the heat output is even higher—about 362 cubic meters of gas per cubic meter of wood. At current gas prices, this amounts to approximately 2,882 UAH.
However, these calculations are approximate. The final cost of heating is influenced by the moisture content of the firewood, the quality of its storage, the efficiency of the boiler or stove, the home’s insulation, and how the firewood is stacked.
How Much Will It Cost to Heat a House
For a small house or cottage with an area of approximately 50–70 square meters, you can estimate consumption at 1,800–2,800 cubic meters of gas over three winter months. For a 50-square-meter house, this is about 1,800 cubic meters of gas, and for a 70-square-meter house, up to 2,800 cubic meters.
At a rate of 7.96 UAH per cubic meter, the cost will be approximately 14,300–22,300 UAH over three months. If we convert this amount of heat into oak firewood, it would require approximately 5.4–8.4 cubic meters of wood.
At prices starting at 3,700 UAH per cubic meter, this amounts to about 19,400–31,100 UAH. In other words, at current prices in Kyiv, heating a home with oak firewood may, in some cases, cost more than heating with gas.
However, for a specific home, the result may be quite different. Key factors include the home’s floor area, its insulation, the outdoor temperature, the desired room temperature, and the efficiency of the heating equipment.
Firewood prices may rise even further
Seasonal demand poses a separate challenge. In the summer, homeowners already begin actively stocking up on fuel in preparation for the fall and winter.
Because of this, sellers advise against waiting until the last minute to make a purchase. The closer the heating season gets, the higher demand may become—and with it, the prices for ready-to-use firewood and delivery costs. This is especially true in Kyiv and the surrounding region, where private sellers are already charging significantly more than the government-set price.
This is reported in an article by “Golovkom.”
As a reminder, Ukrainians can receive up to 19,400 UAH for firewood: here’s how to apply for the subsidy.
Ukrainians and social institutions are purchasing firewood at a much faster rate. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 1.1 million cubic meters of firewood have been sold in Ukraine, which is roughly twice as much as during the same period last year.
