Wood is an amazing fuel source when you want to cook with the flavors of a wood-fired grill. But knowing how much you’ll need for your restaurant can be tricky. From your budget to how much room you have to store wood. There are many things to consider when figuring out how much wood a commercial grill uses.
Calculating wood usage for restaurants will help you plan for your daily needs. It also helps you know how much to keep on hand to maintain the proper temperature.
When you know how much wood you use each day, you can better plan for your kitchen’s needs. Commercial wood-fired grills will burn through a lot of wood when cooking. Knowing your average will help you know how much to have on hand. You can also plan your budget and prep time better.
How Much Wood Does a Commercial Grill Use on Average?
On average, a commercial wood-fired grill will use about 30-80 lbs of wood a day. This can vary depending on how much food you’re cooking and how long your grill is on. Some restaurants may burn up to 150 lbs of wood a day.
| Type of Restaurant | Hours in Use | Wood Burned Per Day | Wood Used Per Month |
| Small to Medium Grill | 6-8 hours | 30-50 pounds | 0.5-0.75 cords |
| Large Grill/Steak House | 10-12 hours | 75-120 pounds | 1.2-1.8 cords |
| BBQ Restaurant | 12-16 hours | 120-180+ pounds | 2-3 cords |
What Factors Affect Commercial Wood-Fired Grill Fuel Consumption?
Many factors affect how much wood your commercial grill burns. These include your grill size, how much food you cook, and the type of wood you use. All of these factors can increase or decrease how much wood a commercial grill uses.
By understanding what affects your grill’s fuel consumption, you can plan for your kitchen needs.
Size of Your Grill
The larger your grill, the more wood it will need to stay hot. A 4-foot grill needs more wood to stay at a steady temperature than a 2-foot grill. You will also need to add more wood if you spread your coals out.
Amount of Food You Are Cooking
If you are cooking a lot of food on your grill, it will drop the grill temperature. You will need to add more wood to bring the temperature back up. When you don’t use your grill as often, you can reduce the amount of air going to the fire.
Type of Wood You Use
Dried hardwood burns hotter and longer. If you use green wood, your grill will not burn as hot, and you will use more wood. Using dried-out wood means you’ll use less wood overall.
How Long Your Grill Is On
You need a certain amount of wood to get your grill up to temperature. If you run your grill all day, it will be more efficient than if you turn it on for only a few hours at a time.
How Does Hardwood vs Softwood Impact Commercial Grilling Fuel Requirements?
Hardwood will burn hotter and longer than softwood. Most commercial kitchens will use hardwood to fuel their grills. Hardwood burns longer and produces less ash.
| Type of Wood | BTU Per Cord | Burn Time | Amount of Ash | Best For Commercial Grill |
| Oak | High | Long | Low | Yes |
| Hickory | High | Long | Medium | Yes |
| Fruit Wood | Medium | Medium | Medium | Yes |
| Pine | Low | Short | High | No |
Softwood has a high amount of sap and resin. This can cause your chimney to get clogged with creosote. It will also give your food a bitter taste. Hardwood will burn at a consistent BTU, which is great for commercial grilling fuel requirements.
How Can Kitchens Improve Wood-Fired Grill Efficiency?
You can do a few things to improve your wood-fired grill’s efficiency. Make sure you have proper airflow going to your firebox. Insulate your grill and add the right amount of wood.
Keep these things in mind to save money on fuel and cook more food.
Proper Airflow
Make sure you have the right amount of air going to your firebox. If you have too much air, your wood will burn through too fast. Once you have a good bed, you can close your air intake to keep the heat in your grill.
Clean Your Fire Box
Clean out your fire box between uses. If your fire box is packed with ash, your wood will not burn as hot. Make sure there is enough airflow under your grill to keep the fire burning.
How Do Operators Calculate Wood-Fired Grill Operating Costs?
To calculate your wood-fired grill operating costs, you need to know how much wood you use per day. Then multiply that by the cost of wood in your area. Also factor in delivery costs and how much room you have to store wood.
If you use 60 lbs of wood a day and wood costs $0.35 a pound. You will be spending about $21 a day on wood. That comes to about $630 a month for fuel alone. You will also need to factor in delivery and storage space.
Lower Your Fuel Costs With Aztec Grill
There are many ways to lower your fuel costs when using a wood-fired grill. One of the best things you can do is buy a quality grill. Many grills on the market today aren’t built for commercial use.
Aztec Grill makes commercial wood-fired grills that will help you lower your fuel costs. Our grills are built with heavy-gauge material and insulated to keep your heat where it needs to be. You can control the amount of air going to your firebox and keep your wood bed at the perfect temperature. Buy a wood-fired grill from Aztec Grill and see the difference it can make in your restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much room do I need to store a month of wood?
A cord of wood is 4 feet tall x 4 feet deep x 8 feet long. That equals 128 cubic feet. You will want to have at least 150 cubic feet of room to store your wood.
Q. Is it worth it to buy kiln-dried wood?
Kiln-dried wood will burn hotter and cleaner than green wood. It will also take less time to light your grill. Kiln-dried wood is a great investment for your commercial grill.
Q. How much wood does an open hearth use vs. a grill?
An open hearth will use more wood than a grill. Because heat escapes from your hearth, you will need to add more wood to keep your grill at temperature.