The Best Woods For Burning
In either a wood stove or fireplace, the easiest and best fire is built by using a mixture of both softwoods -- from trees such as pines and firs -- and hardwoods -- oak, eucalyptus, cedar and so on.
Softwoods start burning easily, and the hardwoods provide for long burning and good "coaling" qualities. A bed of ashes underneath the grate produces steady heat and aids in igniting new fuel as it is added. The fire will continue burning if small amounts of wood are added at regular intervals. In fact, more efficient combustion results from burning small loads of wood with sufficient air than from burning large loads with minimal air.
Below is the average energy content of various species of wood.
| Wood Heating and Weight Values | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Million Btu/Cord* | Cord Weight (pounds) ** DRY |
Cord Weight (pounds) ** GREEN |
| Alder, Red | 18.4 - 19.5 | 2000 - 2600 | 3200 - 4100 |
| Ash | 24.5 - 26.0 | 2680 - 3450 | 4630 - 5460 |
| Aspen | 17.0 - 18.0 | 1860 - 2400 | 3020 - 3880 |
| Beech | 28.6 - 30.4 | 3100 - 4000 | 4890 - 6290 |
| Birch | 25.9 - 27.5 | 2840 - 3650 | 4630 - 5960 |
| Cedar, Incense | 17.8 - 20.1 | 1800 - 2350 | 3020 - 3880 |
| Cedar, Port Orford | 20.7 - 23.4 | 2100 - 2700 | 3400 - 4370 |
| Cherry | 22.3 - 23.7 | 2450 - 3150 | 4100 - 5275 |
| Chinquapin | 23.2 - 24.7 | 2580 - 3450 | 3670 - 4720 |
| Cottonwood | 15.8 - 16.8 | 1730 - 2225 | 2700 - 3475 |
| Dogwood | 28.6 - 30.4 | 3130 - 4025 | 5070 - 6520 |
| Douglas-Fir | 23.5 - 26.5 | 2400 - 3075 | 3930 - 5050 |
| Elm | 22.3 - 23.7 | 2450 - 3150 | 4070 - 5170 |
| Eucalyptus | 32.5 - 34.5 | 3550 - 4560 | 6470 - 7320 |
| Fir, Grand | 17.8 - 20.1 | 1800 - 2330 | 3020 - 3880 |
| Fir, Red | 18.3 - 20.6 | 1860 - 2400 | 3140 - 4040 |
| Fir, White | 18.8 - 21.1 | 1900 - 2450 | 3190 - 4100 |
| Hemlock, Western | 21.6 - 24.4 | 2200 - 2830 | 4460 - 5730 |
| Juniper, Western | 23.4 - 26.4 | 2400 - 3050 | 4225 - 5410 |
| Laurel, California | 24.6 - 26.1 | 2690 - 3450 | 4460 - 5730 |
| Locust, Black | 29.5 - 31.4 | 3230 - 4150 | 6030 - 7750 |
| Madrone | 29.1 - 30.9 | 3180 - 4086 | 5070 - 6520 |
| Magnolia | 22.3 - 23.7 | 2440 - 3140 | 4020 - 5170 |
| Maple, Big Leaf | 21.4 - 22.7 | 2350 - 3000 | 3840 - 4940 |
| Oak, Black | 25.8 - 27.4 | 2821 - 3625 | 4450 - 5725 |
| Oak, Live | 34.4 - 36.6 | 3766 - 4840 | 6120 - 7870 |
| Oak, White | 26.4 - 28.0 | 2880 - 3710 | 4890 - 6290 |
| Pine, Jeffery | 19.3 - 21.7 | 1960 - 2520 | 3320 - 4270 |
| Pine, Lodgepole | 19.7 - 22.3 | 2000 - 2580 | 3320 - 4270 |
| Pine, Ponderosa | 19.3 - 21.7 | 1960 - 2520 | 3370 - 4270 |
| Pine, Sugar | 17.3 - 19.6 | 1960 - 2270 | 2970 - 3820 |
| Redwood, Coast | 17.8 - 20.1 | 1810 - 2330 | 3140 - 4040 |
| Spruce, Sitka | 19.3 - 21.7 | 1960 - 2520 | 3190 - 4100 |
| Sweetgum (Liquidambar) | 20.6 - 21.9 | 2255 - 2900 | 4545 - 5840 |
| Sycamore | 21.9 - 23.3 | 2390 - 3080 | 4020 - 5170 |
| Tanoak | 25.9 - 27.5 | 2845 - 3650 | 4770 - 6070 |
| Walnut, Black | 24.5 - 26.0 | 2680 - 3450 | 4450 - 5725 |
| Western Red Cedar | 15.4 - 17.4 | 1570 - 2000 | 2700 - 3475 |
| Willow, Black | 17.5 - 18.6 | 1910 - 2450 | 3140 - 4040 |
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* British thermal unit (Btu) values based on specific gravity of 80 cubic feet per cord. 8000 to 8500 Btu per pound for non resinous woods. 8600 to 9700 Btu per pound for resinous woods. ** Weights:
All moisture contents based on "wet" wood basis.
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