Heating a private home with firewood in 2026 costs at least several thousand hryvnia, while a full supply for the heating season requires 5 to 12 cubic meters of wood, depending on the size of the home, the species, and the moisture content of the firewood. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine," as of September 1, 2026, the average retail price of a cubic meter of firewood for non-industrial household use is 1,252 UAH including VAT. The enterprise recommends using this figure as the baseline when calculating the cost of a seasonal supply, however, the actual amount for a specific household may differ significantly depending on the region and delivery conditions.
Regional price differences
The cost per cubic meter varies substantially by region and wood species. In resource-rich forest regions — in the Polesia, the Carpathian region, as well as in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts — prices range from 900 to 1,400 UAH per cubic meter depending on the species. In the less forested eastern and southern regions, as well as in Kirovohrad oblast, the price starts at 1,000 UAH per cubic meter for softwood species and can reach 1,700 UAH per cubic meter for hardwood. Importantly, in these regions the buyer pays for delivery separately, which further increases the final cost.
Price dynamics over the year
Over the year, firewood prices rose by an average of 12–15%. "Forests of Ukraine" attributes this increase primarily to the rising cost of fuel and lubricants and of logging services. Thus, the increase in logistics costs and work at the forest-industrial complex is directly passed on to the final consumer price, rather than being driven solely by a shortage of wood.
Record demand and shipment volumes
According to the enterprise, its branches have already shipped nearly 1.9 million cubic meters of firewood to the population, and they plan to harvest another approximately 1 million cubic meters by the end of the year. "Forests of Ukraine" forecasts that 2026 will reach a record level of 2.9–3 million cubic meters in firewood sales to the population. The company explains this growth in demand by the increased need for autonomous heating amid the instability of the centralized energy system.
Which species citizens choose
The highest demand traditionally goes to hardwood species — oak, hornbeam, ash, beech, and maple — which have the highest heat output, burn for a long time, and produce the most heat. Coniferous species are also actively purchased — pine, spruce, and fir. The least in demand are softwood species — linden, willow, and aspen. The choice of species directly affects both the price and the amount of supply needed, since the heat output of different types of wood varies.
Contradictory data
When comparing the figures, some inconsistencies emerge that should be taken into account. First, in the headline of the RBC-Ukraine article the price increase is phrased as "up to 15%," whereas in the text and in the enterprise's statement the range given is 12–15%, meaning the upper limit is not universal for all regions. Second, the average price of 1,252 UAH/m³ noticeably diverges from the regional maxima of up to 1,700 UAH/m³, so relying exclusively on the average figure may understate the real cost for residents of the eastern and southern oblasts. Third, the price per cubic meter does not include delivery and splitting of the firewood, which are paid for separately — which is precisely why total heating costs end up higher than a simple multiplication of the supply by the average price.
Context of winter preparation
The growing interest in firewood is occurring against the backdrop of the energy system's preparation for winter. As Deputy Prime Minister — Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal previously stated, Ukraine is preparing the energy system for winter under active Russian strikes, strengthening the protection of facilities and accumulating the necessary equipment for the regions. The 2025–2026 winter has already influenced Ukrainians' housing priorities: more and more people are paying attention to the autonomy of their homes, although mass relocations have not occurred. Under these conditions, firewood remains one of the key backup heat sources for the private sector.
