| Species |
Density
(lbs per cubic ft) |
Weight Per Cord
(lbs) |
BTU's Per Cord
(millions) |
Recoverable BTU's per Cord
(Millions) |
Units needed to produce 1 Million BTU's |
| Hickory |
50.9 |
4327 |
27.7 |
19.39 |
0.052 |
| East. Hophornbeam |
50.2 |
4267 |
27.3 |
19.11 |
0.052 |
| Apple |
48.7 |
4100 |
26.5 |
18.55 |
0.054 |
| White Oak |
47.2 |
4012 |
25.7 |
17.99 |
0.056 |
| Sugar Maple |
44.2 |
3757 |
24 |
16.8 |
0.060 |
| Red Oak |
44.2 |
3757 |
24 |
16.8 |
0.060 |
| Beech |
44.2 |
3757 |
24 |
16.8 |
0.060 |
| Yellow Birch |
43.4 |
3689 |
23.6 |
16.52 |
0.061 |
| White Ash |
43.4 |
3689 |
23.6 |
16.52 |
0.061 |
| Hackberry |
38.2 |
3247 |
20.8 |
14.56 |
0.069 |
| Tamarack |
38.2 |
3247 |
20.8 |
14.56 |
0.069 |
| Paper Birch |
37.4 |
3179 |
20.3 |
14.21 |
0.070 |
| Cherry |
36.7 |
3121 |
20 |
14 |
0.071 |
| Elm |
35.9 |
3052 |
19.5 |
13.65 |
0.073 |
| Black Ash |
35.2 |
2992 |
19.1 |
13.37 |
0.075 |
| Red Maple |
34.4 |
2924 |
18.7 |
13.09 |
0.076 |
| Boxelder |
32.9 |
2797 |
17.9 |
12.53 |
0.080 |
| Jack Pine |
31.4 |
2669 |
17.1 |
11.97 |
0.084 |
| Norway Pine |
31.4 |
2669 |
17.1 |
11.97 |
0.084 |
| Hemlock |
29.2 |
2482 |
15.9 |
11.13 |
0.090 |
| Black Spruce |
29.2 |
2482 |
15.9 |
11.13 |
0.090 |
| Ponderosa Pine |
28 |
2380 |
15.2 |
10.64 |
0.094 |
| Aspen |
27 |
2290 |
14.7 |
10.29 |
0.097 |
| White Pine |
26.3 |
2236 |
14.3 |
10.01 |
0.100 |
| Balsam Fir |
26.3 |
2236 |
14.3 |
10.01 |
0.100 |
| Cottonwood |
24.8 |
2108 |
13.5 |
9.45 |
0.106 |
| Basswood |
24.8 |
2108 |
13.5 |
9.45 |
0.106 |
| Species |
Ease Of Starting |
Coaling Qualities |
Sparks |
Fragrance |
Heating Class
(1 is best) |
| Apple |
Poor |
Excellent |
Few |
Excellent |
2 |
| Ash |
Fair |
Good |
Few |
Slight |
2 |
| Beech |
Poor |
Good |
Few |
Slight |
1 |
| Birch White |
Good |
Good |
Moderate |
Slight |
2 |
| Cherry |
Poor |
Excellent |
Few |
Excellent |
2 |
| Cedar |
Excellent |
Poor |
Many |
Good |
3 |
| Elm |
Fair |
Good |
Very Few |
Fair |
2 |
| Hemlock |
Good |
Low |
Many |
Good |
3 |
| Hickory |
Fair |
Excellent |
Moderate |
Slight |
1 |
| Locusts Black |
Poor |
Excellent |
Very Few |
Slight |
1 |
| Maple Sugar |
Poor |
Excellent |
Few |
Good |
1 |
| Oak Red |
Poor |
Excellent |
Few |
Fair |
1 |
| Pine |
Excellent |
Poor |
Moderate |
Good |
3 |
Different types of wood have different heating values. You should expect to pay more for a cord of mixed wood containing a lot of seasoned hickory, for example, than an equivalent measure with mostly aspen or hemlock. Generally speaking, you'll get much more heat from hardwood than from softer, lighter wood.
Most firewood you purchase will be green and have a fair amount of water in it. It takes at least six months of air drying for wood to be considered seasoned and ready for burning.
When selecting wood, also take into consideration ease of splitting, ease of ignition and burning, how much smoke it produces and its "coaling" qualities. "Coaling" refers to the ability of a species of wood to form a long- lasting bed of hot coals when burned. Coaling qualities improve with higher density.
Source: Hearth.com
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