wood heat value (BTU)
The burning quality of different woods, an important consideration when
choosing fuel for a wood stove, is listed
in the table below.
| Species |
Density
(lb./cu.ft.) |
Weight per
cord (lb.) |
BTUs per cord
(millions) |
Recoverable BTUs
per cord (millions) |
Units needed to
produce 1 million BTUs |
| black locust |
52.5 |
4462 |
28.5 |
19.95 |
0.051 |
| 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 |
| box elder |
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 |
Related categories
• WOOD
HEATING • FIRES
AND FIREPLACES |