This step by step diy project is about 6×12 firewood shed plans. If you want to store 3 chord of wood in a proper manner, you need to take a look over these plans. This wood shed has lean to roof and a sturdy frame. See the rest of my firewood shed free plans HERE. Take a look over the rest of my woodworking plans, if you want to get more building inspiration. Premium Plans for this project available in the Shop.
When buying the lumber, you should select the planks with great care, making sure they are straight and without any visible flaws (cracks, knots, twists, decay). Investing in cedar or other weather resistant lumber is a good idea, as it will pay off on the long run. Use a spirit level to plumb and align the components, before inserting the galvanized screws, otherwise the project won’t have a symmetrical look. If you have all the materials and tools required for the project, you could get the job done in about a day.
Projects made from these plans
It’s that simple to build your own 3 cord firewood shed!
3 Cord Firewood Shed Plans

Fitting-a-3-cord-wood-shed
- A – 2 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 144″ long, 7 pieces – 69″ long FLOOR FRAME
- B – 17 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 144″ long DECKING
- C – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 84″ long, 2 pieces – 86 3/4″ long, 2 pieces – 60″ long, 2 pieces – 62 3/4″ long, 2 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 144″ long POSTS
- D – 7 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 86 1/2″ long RAFTERS
- E – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 48″x96″ long, 1 piece – 48″x48″ long, 1 piece – 34 1/4″x48″ long, 1 piece – 34 1/4″x96″ long ROOF
- F – 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 82 1/4″ long, 2 pieces – 148 1/2″ long TRIMS
- G – 100 sq ft of tar paper, 100 sq ft of asphalt shingles ROOFING
- H – 7 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 72″ long, 6 pieces – 142 1/2″ long SLATS
- 8 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 12′
- 17 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 12′
- 11 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8′
- 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 12′
- 3 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
- 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 8′
- 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 14′
- 13 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 12′
- 100 sq ft of tar paper, 100 sq ft of asphalt shingles
- 2 1/2″ screws, 3 1/2″ screws, 1 5/8″ screws
- 6d nails, 16d nails
- rafter ties
- 1 1/2″ structural screw
- wood filler , wood glue, stain/paint
How to build a 6×12 wood shed

Building-a-floor-frame
First of all, build the floor frame for the storage firewood shed. Therefore, cut the joists for the shed from 2×6 lumber, at the dimensions shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the rim joists and insert 3 1/2″ screws into the perpendicular components. Place the joists every 24″ on center, making sure the corners are square and the edges are flush.

Fitting the floor slats
Choose the location for the wood shed and level it up thoroughly. It can be next to the property line or to one side of your backyard, to save space. Fit cider blocks under the floor frame so you can keep the firewood protected from moisture and to support their weight properly.
Fit the 2×4 decking to the floor of the shed. Make sure you place 3/4″ block of woods between the slats so you create even gaps. Align the edges flush, drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws, so you secure the slats into place tightly.

Fitting-the-posts—3-cord-woodshed
Fit the 2×4 posts to the floor frame of the shed. Use 2 1/2″ screws to lock the perpendicular posts one to another. Drill pilot holes before inserting the screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. Plumb the posts with a spirit level before securing them into place.

Roof supports
Fit the 2×6 supports to the top of the front and back posts. Check if the supports are horizontal. Drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock them into place tightly.

Front wall middle support
Fit 2×4 middle supports to the front and back of the firewood shed. Center the posts into place and then secure them into place with 2 1/2″ screws, after drilling pilot holes.

Back middle support
Fit the 2×4 support to the middle of the back wall of the firewood shed. Center the posts, drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws.

Rafters—3-cord-firewood-shed
Use 2×4 lumber for the rafters. Mark the cut lines on the beams and then get the job done with a circular saw. Smooth the edges with sandpaper.

Fitting-the-rafters
Fit the rafters to the top of the shed structure. Place the rafters every 24″ on center. Use rafter ties to secure the rafters into place tightly.

Fitting the side slats
Fit 1×6 slats to the sides of the firewood shed. Place a piece of 3″ between the slats to create even gaps. Drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws to secure the slats into place.

Fitting the back slats
Fit the 1×6 slats to the back of the shed, as shown in the plans.

Fitting the roof sheets
Fit the 3/4″ plywood sheets to the top of the roof, as shown in the plans. Leave no gaps between the sheets and align the edges with attention. Drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws every 8″ along the rafters.

Side trims
Fit the 1×6 trims to the sides of the roof. Align the edges with attention and secure them with 1 5/8″ screws.

Front and back roof trims
Fit the 1×6 trims to the front and back of the wood shed. Align the edges and insert 1 5/8″ screws to lock them into place.

Fitting the roofing
Cover the roof of the shed with roofing felt, making sure the strips overlap at least 2″. Secure the tar paper to the plywood sheets with roofing staples. In addition, cut a 12″ piece for the top ridge. Fit the side drip edges over the roofing felt, while the bottom drip edges should be fit under.

3 cord firewood shed plans – front view
This firewood shed features a large opening for easy access to the wood logs. You can stack a few wood sheds together to increase the storage capacity.

3 cord firewood shed plans
This 6×12 wood shed is ideal for any homeowner, as it will shelter the firewood from the weather, while adding a touch of unique charm to your backyard. You should also check out my 8×8 gable wood shed plans, which can also hold 3 cords of wood. I have many design ideas on this blog, so make sure you take a look over all the alternatives before taking a decision.
This woodworking project was about 6×12 wood shed plans. If you want to see more outdoor plans, check out the rest of our step by step projects and follow the instructions to obtain a professional result.
Why wouldn’t you use joist hangers?
Cost savings.
One issue I have is that when you attach the trim boards to the sides of the roof, they are actually attached to the vertical corner boards and it leaves a 1.5″ gap between the trim board and the plywood roof. It seems that you just laid the tar paper and shingles right over that gap?
Yes, you cover that with tar and shingles. You should have no problem, since you have the trims as supports.
I just built this, I did add joist hangers and put on a METAL roof. It’s much faster and just a few bucks more. We also stained all the untreated wood to help prevent any rot.
What joist hangers did you use?
Used 2×6 joist hangers on the inner joists, 10 hangers
This was just what I was looking for. I built it in 3 days by myself including four trips to transport the lumber (75 minutes each way). I substituted 12′ 1x6s for the roof. A bit more expensive but I can’t fit the plywood in the car and no one is delivering.
Because I was building on uneven ground, I put the 4x4s in concrete feet. I learned the hard way that supports at the corners are insufficient. It needs at least six supports and maybe eight. If I were doing it again, I’d use more floor joists. Three cords weighs 12,000 pounds!
This is not a 3 1/2 cord shed. It is 2 1/4 cords by calculating 12 ft x 6 ft x 4 ft stacking height.
I didn’t do my own calculations prior to building and didn’t listen to that nagging voice at the back of my head.
That’s the reason you should leave calculus to someone who actually knows numbers. This is a 3 cord wood shed. In case you haven’t noticed the front opening is 6 ft, the back if more than 4 ft. This is not a flat roof shed to consider the height 4 ft.
Are the paid plans more detailed and step by step?
Yes, they come with color code and with diagrams showing how to cut the components from the materials, so you get low waste. Also, the premium plans are re-engineered so they might differ from the free plans.