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Sweep's Library: Firewood Heat Value Comparison Charts

Here are two charts showing the weight and available heat content of one cord of firewood of various species, the first sorted by heat value, and the second sorted alphabetically for easy lookup. The heat value measurement used is the British Thermal Unit, or BTU, which is defined as the amount of thermal energy it takes to raise one pound of water one degree F. One MBTU = one million BTUs.

Firewood Chart A: Sorted by BTU Content

Common Name	Species Name	Pounds /Cord	MBTU /Cord
Osage Orange (Hedge)	Maclura pomifera	4,845	30.0
Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood)	Ostrya virginiana	4,250	26.4
Persimmon, American	Diospyros virginiana	4,165	25.8
Hickory, Shagbark	Carya ovata	4,080	25.3
Dogwood, Pacific	Cornus nuttallii	3,995	24.8
Holly, American	Ilex Opaca	3,995	24.8
Birch, Black	Betula lenta	3,910	24.2
Oak, White	Quercus alba	3,910	24.2
Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus)	Arbutus menziesii	3,825	23.7
Oak, Post	Quercus stellata	3,825	23.7
Locust, Honey	Gleditsia triacanthos	3,825	23.7
Hickory, Bitternut	Carya cordiformis	3,825	23.7
Beech, Blue (Ironwood)	Carpinus caroliniana	3,825	23.7
Mulberry	Morus rubra	3,740	23.2
Locust, Black	Robinia pseudoacacia	3,740	23.2
Maple, Sugar	Acer saccharum	3,740	23.2
Beech, American	Fagus grandifolia	3,655	22.7
Oak, Oregon (Garry)	Quercus garryana	3,655	22.7
Oak, Bur (Mossycup)	Quercus macrocarpa	3,655	22.7
Oak, Red	Quercus rubra	3,570	22.1
Birch, Yellow	Betula alleghaniensis	3,570	22.1
Ash, White	Fraxinus americana	3,485	21.6
Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood)	Umbellularia californica	3,485	21.6
Apple	Malus domestica	3,485	21.6
Ash, Green	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	3,400	21.1
Maple, Black	Acer nigrum	3,400	21.1
Walnut, Black	Juglans nigra	3,230	20.0
Maple, Red	Acer rubrum	3,230	20.0
Ash, Oregon	Fraxinus latifolia	3,230	20.0
Birch, White (Paper)	Betula papyrifera	3,230	20.0
Tamarack (Larch)	Larix laricina	3,145	19.5
Birch, Gray	Betula populifolia	3,145	19.5
Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	3,145	19.5
Juniper, Rocky Mtn	Juniperus scopulorum	3,145	19.5
Cherry, Black	Prunus serotina	3,145	19.5
Coffeetree, Kentucky	Gymnocladus dioicus	3,060	19.0
Sorrel (Sourwood)	Oxydendrum arboreum	3,060	19.0
Elm, Red	Ulmus rubra	3,060	19.0
Eucalyptus (Red Gum)	Eucalyptus camaldulensis	2,975	18.4
Elm, American	Ulmus americana	2,975	18.4
Sycamore, American	Platanus occidentalis	2,890	17.9
Maple, Big Leaf	Acer macrophyllum	2,890	17.9
Elm, White (Russian)	Ulmus laevis	2,890	17.9
Ash, Black	Fraxinus nigra	2,890	17.9
Boxelder (Maple Ash)	Acer negundo	2,890	17.9
Pine, Norway (Red)	Pinus resinosa	2,890	17.9
Fir, Douglas	Pseudotsuga menzies II	2,805	17.4
Maple, Silver	Acer saccharinum	2,805	17.4
Compressed Sawdust Logs*	Presto homofecit stipes	2,000	17.0
Pine, Pitch	Pinus rigida	2,635	17.0
Pine, Lodgepole	Pinus contora latifolia	2,465	15.3
Hemlock	Pinaceae tsuga	2,465	15.3
Spruce, Black	Picea mariana	2,465	15.3
Catalpa (Catawba)	Catalpa speciosa	2,380	14.8
Pine, Ponderosa	Pinus ponderosa	2,380	14.8
Alder, Red or White	Alnus rubra or rhombifolia	2,380	14.8
Pine, Jack (Canadian)	Pinus banksiana	2,380	14.8
Spruce, Sitka	Picea sitchensis	2,380	14.8
Pine, White (Idaho)	Pinus monticola	2,236	14.3
Willow	Salix	2,295	14.2
Fir, Concolor (White)	Abies concolor	2,295	14.2
Basswood (Linden)	Tilia americana	2,210	13.7
Aspen, American (Poplar)	Populus tremuloides	2,210	13.7
Butternut (White Walnut)	Juglans cinerea	2,125	13.2
Pine, White (Eastern)	Pinus strobus	2,125	13.2
Fir, Balsam	Abies balsamea	2,125	13.2
Cottonwood (Poplar)	Populus trichocarpa	2,040	12.6
Spruce, Engelmann	Picea engelmannii	1,955	12.1
Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar)	Juniperus virginiana	1,955	12.1
Buckeye, Ohio	Aesculus glabra	1,955	12.1
Cedar, White (Whitecedar)	Thuja occidentalis	1,870	11.6
Bamboo	Poaceae bambusoideae	1,615	10.0
Balsa	Ochroma pyramidale	935	5.8
Copyright © 2011 - 2019 The Chimney Sweep, Inc.

Firewood Chart B: Sorted Alphabetically

Common Name	Species Name	Pounds /Cord	MBTU /Cord
Alder, Red or White	Alnus rubra or rhombifolia	2,380	14.8
Apple	Malus domestica	3,485	21.6
Ash, Black	Fraxinus nigra	2,890	17.9
Ash, Green	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	3,400	21.1
Ash, Oregon	Fraxinus latifolia	3,230	20.0
Ash, White	Fraxinus americana	3,485	21.6
Aspen, American (Poplar)	Populus tremuloides	2,210	13.7
Balsa	Ochroma pyramidale	935	5.8
Bamboo	Poaceae bambusoideae	1,615	10.0
Basswood (Linden)	Tilia americana	2,210	13.7
Beech, American	Fagus grandifolia	3,655	22.7
Beech, Blue (Ironwood)	Carpinus caroliniana	3,825	23.7
Birch, Black	Betula lenta	3,890	24.2
Birch, Gray	Betula populifolia	3,145	19.5
Birch, Yellow	Betula alleghaniensis	3,570	22.1
Birch, White (Paper)	Betula papyrifera	3,230	20.0
Boxelder (Maple Ash)	Acer negundo	2,890	17.9
Buckeye, Ohio	Aesculus glabra	1,955	12.1
Butternut (White Walnut)	Juglans cinerea	2,125	13.2
Catalpa (Catawba)	Catalpa speciosa	2,380	14.8
Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar)	Juniperus virginiana	1,955	12.1
Cedar, White (Whitecedar)	Thuja occidentalis	1,870	11.6
Cherry, Black	Prunus serotina	3,145	19.5
Coffeetree, Kentucky	Gymnocladus dioicus	3,060	19.0
Compressed Sawdust Logs *	Presto homofecit stipes	2,000	17.0
Cottonwood (Poplar)	Populus trichocarpa	2,040	12.6
Dogwood, Pacific	Cornus nuttallii	3,995	24.8
Elm, American	Ulmus americana	2,975	18.4
Elm, Red	Ulmus rubra	3,060	19.0
Elm, White (Russian)	Ulmus laevis	2,890	17.9
Eucalyptus (Red Gum)	Eucalyptus camaldulensis	2,975	18.4
Fir, Balsam	Abies balsamea	2,125	13.2
Fir, Concolor (White)	Abies concolor	2,295	14.2
Fir, Douglas	Pseudotsuga menzies II	2,805	17.4
Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	3,145	19.5
Hemlock	Pinaceae tsuga	2,465	15.3
Hickory, Bitternut	Carya cordiformis	3,825	23.7
Hickory, Shagbark	Carya ovata	4,080	25.3
Holly, American	Ilex Opaca	3,995	24.8
Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood)	Ostrya virginiana	4,250	26.4
Juniper, Rocky Mtn	Juniperus scopulorum	3,145	19.5
Locust, Black	Robinia pseudoacacia	3,740	23.2
Locust, Honey	Gleditsia triacanthos	3,825	23.7
Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus)	Arbutus menziesii	3,825	23.7
Maple, Big Leaf	Acer macrophyllum	2,890	17.9
Maple, Black	Acer nigrum	3,400	21.1
Maple, Red	Acer rubrum	3,230	20.0
Maple, Sugar	Acer saccharum	3,740	23.2
Maple, Silver	Acer saccharinum	2,805	17.4
Mulberry	Morus rubra	3,740	23.2
Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood)	Umbellularia californica	3,485	21.6
Oak, Bur (Mossycup)	Quercus macrocarpa	3,655	22.7
Oak, Oregon (Garry)	Quercus garryana	3,655	22.7
Oak, Post	Quercus stellata	3,825	23.7
Oak, Red	Quercus rubra	3,570	22.1
Oak, White	Quercus alba	3,910	24.2
Osage Orange (Hedge)	Maclura pomifera	4,845	30.0
Persimmon, American	Diospyros virginiana	4,165	25.8
Pine, Jack (Canadian)	Pinus banksiana	2,380	14.8
Pine, Lodgepole	Pinus contora latifolia	2,465	15.3
Pine, Norway (Red)	Pinus resinosa	2,890	17.9
Pine, Pitch	Pinus rigida	2,635	16.3
Pine, Ponderosa	Pinus ponderosa	2,380	14.8
Pine, White (Eastern)	Pinus strobus	2,125	13.2
Pine, White (Idaho)	Pinus monticola	2,236	14.3
Sorrel (Sourwood)	Oxydendrum arboreum	3,060	19.0
Spruce, Engelmann	Picea engelmannii	1,955	12.1
Spruce, Sitka	Picea sitchensis	2,380	14.8
Spruce, Black	Picea mariana	2,465	15.3
Sycamore, American	Platanus occidentalis	2,890	17.9
Tamarack (Larch)	Larix laricina	3,145	19.5
Walnut, Black	Juglans nigra	3,230	20.0
Willow	Salix	2,295	14.2
Copyright © 2011 - 2019 The Chimney Sweep, Inc.

Weight and Heat content figures are based on seasoned wood at 20% moisture content, and 85 cu ft of wood per cord. A cord of wood is defined as a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long, which comes to 128 cu ft, but we deduct for air space between the pieces in the stack.

* Compressed sawdust logs sell by weight, not volume. BTU content given is for one ton (2,000 lbs)

To read about how we derived the numbers for our charts, click here.

Regardless of what species of wood you burn, it won't produce optimal heat output and burn time unless it is properly seasoned. You can read more about why you shouldn't burn unseasoned fuel wood here.

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A Correction from Plymouth, Minnesota

I need to address your silly comment about the airspace in a cord of wood. Back in the day, a cord of wood was 4x4x8 as it is today. However, it was made up of unsplit logs in 8ft lengths stacked 4ft high and 4ft wide. Logs then were commonly 2ft in diameter or much larger. Therefore, a cord could easily be comprised of four 24" logs stacked two each high and two each wide.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

Ah, the eternal question: when does wood become cordwood? A tree goes through several steps on its way to your wood stove or fireplace. At the very minimum, it must be cut down, limbed, and finally, cut to the appropriate length for its final use. That use could be telephone poles, or dimensional lumber, or log houses, or particle board, all of which might require different lengths. When we refer to "cordwood" in the charts above, we're talking about logs that are cut & split into pieces small enough to fit into your firebox. Here in Washington State, it isn't even LEGAL to advertise wood as "cordwood" unless it is cut in 16" lengths.

Nonetheless, your "Bruce Cord" intrigued us, so we did a little research. Here's what we found:

According to a 2011 report by the State of Minnesota, the most popular fuelwood species in your state are Oak & Ash.

With that in mind, let's examine the "Bruce Cord", comprised of four 8' long by 24" diameter Oak or Ash logs.

These logs would be green, as it would take many, many years to season an 8' length.

Which means, according to the Engineer's Toolbox, each of your 8' x 24" logs would weigh about 1,200 pounds!

To get that load delivered, you'd need to contract with a logging company to make delivery with a log truck.

We maintain that, even though your intention might be to cut and split that truckload into fuel-size pieces, you'd be buying logs, not cordwood.
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The Bruce Cord has airspace too

While your answer to Bruce is more than adequate, you might add that, while a cord comprised of split lengths is 85% wood, the "Bruce Cord" is only 78.54% wood!

David Little, Kansas City, Missouri
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A Correction from Wyoming

Just a comment on your BTU chart. A cord of wood is 4X4X8 SOLID! (as in stacked lumber) so when you deducted the "air space" it was an error. However... you did use the same formula for all species, so the BTU content in relation to each other is still accurate, even though the number isn't accurate for a cord. I did like the fact that you put weights on the list also. Guys are constantly telling me they can get 1 1/2 cords on a pick-up. Didn't think they were... looking at these weights, now I'm sure. Thanks for the info.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I'll admit that a tight stack of dimensional lumber will have very little airspace, but dimensional lumber is sold by the board/foot, not the cord. Our charts are concerned with fuel wood, which is irregular-shaped rounds and splits off the tree. For the record, the correction for airspace between pieces didn't originate with us, it is a widely held standard in the hearth product and solid fuel industries, and we consider it pretty accurate.

Just for grins, let's consider the price you'd pay for a "cord" of dimensional lumber. If you put together a 4' wide x 4' tall stack of 8' long Doug Fir 4x4's, it would take 188 of them (considering actual size, 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"), which would run you over $1,700.00 at the lumber yard at today's price. Seems a little steep for a cord of firewood, no?
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Log delivery by the cord a reality in Wisconsin!

In northern Wisconsin we buy firewood in log form by the cord. You order however many cords you want from the logging company, they deliver it on a log truck and you cut it up, split it and season it yourself. But it isn't in 8' lengths: the logs are just pulpwood that isn't going to make it to the mill, and 102 inches (8ft. 6") is the standard length that paper mills require. The chart was interesting, thanks.
Cliff from Wisconsin

Here in Wisconsin people can easily buy firewood in 10 and 12 cord semi truck loads. They are 8' logs, with diameters ranging from 6" to over 24"(although the big one was somewhat hollow on the large end). They aren't pretty but they are the cheapest way to buy firewood, discounting slab wood. Just a whole lot of work and cleanup after.

Nice chart though.

Carl

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A Comment from New Zealand:

BTUs? What century was your chart produced? I thought the world measured energy in Joules(J), Kilojoules (KJ), Megajoules (MJ) these days!

I am 70 next birthday, and can distinctly remember learning about energy in high school science classes around 1955~59. We did learn the BTU at first, but the next year we changed to Joules for energy, and were told that the reason was that all science throughout the world was done in metric units, so we better get used to it!

The next few years were an exciting time, as New Zealand changed over to the metric system for everyday use. By this time I was myself a high school teacher and we had the challenge of converting all teaching to metric units. Metric measurement is now universal throughout the country.

OK, I do actually realise you are in the US, and the US has farther to go down this road than any other country in the world. I will just say when the change finally comes your way, embrace it wholeheartedly. It may seem difficult initially, but once you are used to it you will NEVER want to go back to the old system. I have heard literally hundreds of old diehards utter similar sentiments a short time after they have had to change!

Cheers,
Graeme

We might be tempted to convert our firewood rating chart over from MBTUs to MegaJoules, but we have one consideration: how many times have we been sitting at our favorite tavern, glass in hand, and found ourselves engaging in some version of the following exchange?

Bob: "Say, during my last sip I noticed that my pounder of Budweiser has warmed up exactly one degree F while I've been holding it. How much energy did my body have to give up to make that happen?"

Tom: "One BTU."

An easy exchange, no? Now let's try the same conversation in a NZ pub:

Kevin: "Say, during my last sip I noticed that my 0.453592 kg glass of Mac's Gold has warmed up exactly .55555 degrees C while I've been holding it. How much energy did my body have to give up to make that happen?"

Graeme: "1,055 Joules."

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Thanks for the chart, very helpful, love the joke at the end

Ryan Weems

Joke? We consider the temperature of our beverage to be a very serious matter.