If you've been looking at pizza oven logs, you've probably seen moisture content mentioned — often as a percentage, and often with the claim "less than 20%." But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter?
What is moisture content?
Moisture content refers to the amount of water contained within a piece of wood, expressed as a percentage of the wood's total weight. Freshly cut (green) wood can contain 50–60% moisture. As wood dries — either through seasoning or kiln-drying — that percentage drops.
The lower the moisture content, the better the wood burns.
What moisture content should pizza oven logs be?
For pizza ovens, you want logs with a moisture content below 20%. This is the threshold set by the UK's Woodsure Ready to Burn certification scheme, and it's the level at which wood burns efficiently, cleanly, and hot enough for pizza cooking.
At below 20% moisture, wood ignites easily, produces minimal smoke, and delivers the high, consistent temperatures — typically 350–500°C — that a wood-fired pizza oven needs.
Above 20%, performance drops significantly. The fire has to work harder to burn off the excess water, which means lower temperatures, more smoke, and longer heat-up times.
How is moisture content measured?
Moisture content is measured with a moisture meter — a small device with two metal probes that are pressed into the wood. A reading below 20% means the wood is ready to burn. Many pizza oven enthusiasts buy their own meter to check wood before use.
The easiest way to guarantee low moisture content without testing it yourself is to buy wood that carries the Woodsure Ready to Burn certification. This means it has been independently tested and verified.
Does log size affect moisture content?
Not directly — but log size affects how well the wood burns in practice. Logs that are too thick take longer to catch and may not dry as evenly throughout. For pizza ovens, logs of 5–15cm diameter are ideal, as they ignite quickly and burn through at the right rate for maintaining oven temperature.
Length matters too. Most pizza oven fireboxes are designed for logs of around 25cm. Longer logs won't fit; shorter ones burn too quickly.
The bottom line
When buying pizza oven logs, always check for a moisture content below 20% and look for the Woodsure Ready to Burn logo. Pizza Logs supplies kiln-dried birch and oak certified to below 20% moisture, cut to 25cm, and delivered ready to use.
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