Good firewood is essential no matter what your plans are, from lighting a campfire to heating up your home or cabin. From best to worst, we’re going to talk about the most popular types of firewood.
First of all, knowing what the good trees for firewood are, what type of wood you are burning, and what is best for a fire is essential when choosing wood for a fire. Depending on whether the fire will be indoors or outdoors, the intensity and duration of the burn will vary.
These differences are primarily caused by the density of the wood, as well as its moisture retention ability. In terms of firewood, high-density, moisture-retentive wood provides the least amount of fuel for a fire and burns with very little intensity.
Before we move on to the details of best to worst firewood, we’d want you to know the best and the worst ones so far. Most fruit trees such as Maple and Oak are considered the best for firewood. While the worst wood to burn in the fireplace is known to be Alder as it produces very less heat and does not last long.
Our today’s article contains 15 commonly known firewood, ranked from best to worst according to our personal experience with them and to what extent they help to lit up a good fire.
Firewood Best to Worst
There are different kinds of wood that burn differently or are better for your fireplace or stove. The following guide explains which wood types are appropriate for use in a wood stove or fireplace, as well as which to avoid.
You can make your wood stove or fireplace more efficient and effective if you know more about the wood you burn, and so, here we are today to help you with that. Let’s begin.
Here’s a list of the firewood to be discussed below.
- Black Locust
- Hickory
- Oak
- Beech
- Ash
- Mulberry
- Apple
- Hawthorn
- Maple
- Black Walnut
- Birch
- Sycamore
- Elm
- Aspen
- Pine
1. Black Locust – Excellent
About – You can burn Black Locust as firewood for heating and it is certainly the best. It produces a great deal of heat. Black Locust also produces a minimum amount of smoke and produces coals of high quality that will burn up until dawn.
Black locusts make excellent firewood, though they may be a lesser-known tree. The Black Locust usually thrives in the mountains of the Appalachian Region as well as in Missouri and related parts, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for it when you’re camping in these areas.
The strength and density of the black locust make it an ideal material for making fence posts. Camping is a great time for campers to use this firewood because of these qualities.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 29.3
- Smoke production: low
- Spark production: medium
- Aroma or fragrance: slight
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is excellent
Important Points to Note
- It is more difficult to split Black Locust than Oak and Ash, which are among the top-rated woods.
- Osage-Orange and some species of Oak technically have higher heat output than Black Locust, despite the Black Locust having the highest heat output on our list.
- Because it is less common, the Osage-Orange is not included in this list.
2. Hickory – Excellent
About – Like pecan wood, hickory wood has a similar strength and density to oak wood. This tree is great for campfires, and it’s just as common as oak trees.
Particularly for heating, Hickory wood is one of the best types of wood. Hickory wood produces a tremendous amount of heat. Moreover, hickory produces a very low amount of smoke, as well as high-quality coals. Also popular for smoking meats and BBQ, hickory firewood serves as a good fuel source.
A lot of hickory wood burns hotter than oak, which makes it even more desirable in some cases. Due to its strength, it is hard to split when you chop it up, but also retains a low amount of moisture, making it burn more efficiently.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 28.5
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Medium
- Aroma or fragrance: Excellent
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- ‘Liquid smoke’ is actually condensed Hickory smoke if you have ever used it for cooking.
- Smoke is the quintessential aroma of hickory.
- The Hickory tree is also one of the species that can be tapped for its syrup, something most people don’t know.
3. Oak – Excellent
About – It is hard to beat oak firewood as a firewood source. Oak firewood generates a lot of heat. Additionally, oak is easy to split when dry, doesn’t produce much smoke, sparks very little, and burns very well to produce coals.
The oak tree is quite common, and it is one of the best woods all-around. The material’s high heating value makes it excellent at producing high-quality heat for a long period of time. This makes it ideal firewood for use indoors because it produces little sparks and smoke.
Red oak and white oak are the two most common types of oak. Both types make great firewood. However, they may be difficult to ignite due to their high density. Therefore, softwood can be used to start the fire, and then oak wood can be added to fuel it later on.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 26.4
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- In cities like Vancouver, oak trees are a common sight; you’ll find them throughout the city.
- Usually, denser and stronger woods like these burn more hotly and for a longer period of time when compared to other types of wood.
- Firewood made from oak is among the most popular. They are excellent for fires, especially when they have been seasoned properly.
4. Beech – Excellent
About – Another excellent firewood is beech. Oak and beech have similar heat outputs. Furthermore, Beech creates excellent coal, produces minimal smoke, and does not spark that much. Beech, however, is among the most difficult kinds of firewood to split.
Campers have used beech as firewood for many years and it has become a staple of outdoor living. Flames produced by this firewood are strong and stable, and they last for quite a while. One disadvantage of beech is that it must be completely dry in order to be lit.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 27.5
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Good
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- This wood is extremely hard to split, even harder than other hardwoods like Black Locust, Hickory, or Oak. Other than that, Beech is an excellent wood for just about any situation.
- It must be thoroughly dried and appropriately seasoned before it can be lit.
- It is also one of the hardest woods to split.
5. Ash – Excellent
About – Firewood made from ash is among the best to burn. Its heat output is high. Furthermore, Ash emits little smoke, produces high-quality coal, and splits easily when dry.
By burning ash, you’ll produce a flame that lasts for a long time. Ashes have another great feature: they can be burned very effectively even when they are not very dry.
In addition to being easier to light than the previously mentioned types of wood, ash is also easier to work with. A relatively fresh Ash tree can be used as firewood since it doesn’t need to be seasoned or dried before burning.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 24.2
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- As opposed to Black Locust, Hickory, and Mulberry, Ash is easier to start a fire with and doesn’t produce as many sparks.
- However, the downside is, unlike other firewood types, ash does not produce a strong fire or burn as hot.
6. Mulberry – Excellent
About – Mulberries are excellent firewoods whose heat output is high. Furthermore, Mulberries smell great and produce excellent coals. The main problem with Mulberry firewood is the number of sparks it produces. This makes it an unsuitable material for indoor open-air fireplaces.
The heat and long-burning properties of dense wood make it a great firewood source. In fact, Mulberry is a wood that is excellent for both cooking and heating.
In fact, Mulberry burns hotter than Ash, a commonly used type of firewood. ‘Coaling’ is another factor common to the rating of firewood. And so, Mulberry produces high-quality, long-lasting coals.
You can see Mulberry is ranked 6th when it comes to heat output for this list of firewood types. That places it alongside Oak and Ash, which is an excellent company!
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 25.8
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: High
- Aroma or fragrance: Good
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- As firewood, Mulberry burns hotter than much other firewood, even hotter than Ash.
- Mulberry coal is characterized by its ability to burn for a long period of time, generating heat throughout the night.
- Sparks from Mulberry can cause fires, so they should be avoided in places that pose a significant fire risk.
7. Apple – Excellent
About – The average apple firewood generates a heat output of 28.6 BTUs, making it the most efficient firewood.
The wood quality of apple trees is highly valued by woodworkers. Because apple wood burns slowly but hotly, and it produces little smoke, this type of wood is not always available as general firewood.
However, apple wood is perfect for grilling and cooking over a wood fire. Applewood is also highly regarded for its pleasant smoky aroma, making it an excellent wood for smoking meats. In order to burn apple wood safely and efficiently, it must be seasoned properly.
Adding apple wood to a fireplace gives off a pleasant, sweet smoky aroma when it burns. However, apple wood is more difficult to ignite and keep burning because it is so dense.
After apple wood has begun to burn, however, it will burn slowly and efficiently for quite some time and result in a nice pile of hot coals. Moreover, applewood emits very little smoke when it burns, making it a great option for open fires.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 28.6
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Medium
- Aroma or fragrance: Excellent
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Excellent
Important Points to Note
- There are many people who are interested in apple wood as a fuel source. With its dense composition, the hardwood produces a scent that’s pleasing to the nose and produces heat and good coaling.
- Interestingly, a large majority of apple wood never sees a fireplace, because it’s so desirable.
8. Hawthorn – Good
About – Wintertime is the perfect time to light a hawthorn fire because it burns hot and slow. In addition to its high heat output, it emits very little smoke. Considering how dense it is, it has many benefits when burned. Compared to other types of firewood, it will burn much hotter and for a longer time.
Hawthorn is highly popular for its sharp thorns. Despite its slow burn and good heat, it must be handled carefully.
Qualities
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Good
Important Points to Note
- Due to its hardness and toughness, hawthorn makes an excellent timber for turnery.
- It is also an excellent wood for making charcoal. Among the various woods used for building, hawthorn burns the hottest.
9. Maple – Good
About – Cherry wood is moderately good for a fire. The fragrance cherry wood produces when burned is its best attribute. Compared to heavier woods like Hickory and Oak, Cherry has a relatively low heat output and is not as efficient a heating material.
Compared to heavier and denser woods like Oak and Black Locust, Cherry only provides a moderate amount of heat. The wood does, however, emit a pleasant aroma as it burns.
As well as being scented, it does not produce a lot of sparks when burned, so it is ideal firewood to burn indoors. Rather than serving as a source of heat, it provides a wonderful setting for a fire. And so, on milder evenings, when all you want is a cozy environment, cherry would be a great help indoors.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 20.4
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Excellent
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Good
Important Points to Note
- A majority of people would agree that Cherry firewood produces one of the best firewood scents.
- It can also be used for smoking meat and cooking over a campfire.
- Whether you’re splitting cherry wood or doing some serious woodworking, cherry is a very easy wood to work with.
10. Black Walnut – Good
About – Walnut trees produce valuable lumber, and so, they are rarely harvested for firewood. As walnut wood is mainly used to manufacture fine furniture, it ranks among the top trees in terms of its board foot value. Known for their sweet nuts, walnuts are a hardwood tree.
It is known for more than just that, though. Firewood can also be made from its wood.
Firewood made from black walnuts is the middle tier. Heat output is moderate, its smell is pleasant, and its coals are decent. If a Black Walnut tree is in good condition, you might want to burn it only when they are dead or severely damaged, as the wood is quite valuable otherwise.
Black walnut’s BTU is lower than that of other common hardwoods such as oak. Despite this, black walnut firewood still produces a lot of heat at 22.2 million BTUs per pound. A good quantity of dry walnut produces a good number of hot coals.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 22.2
- Smoke production: Low
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Good
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Good
Important Points to Note
- Woodworkers prize Black Walnut because it’s the most expensive hardwood in North America. Therefore, Black Walnut is not commonly used as firewood.
- However, Black Walnuts are fairly common trees in certain parts of the USA, so they are sometimes burned as firewood.
11. Birch – Poor
About – There is better firewood out there, and Birch firewood is not among the best ones, not even among the worst ones. Therefore, it is ranked in the middle tier for firewood quality, but it still outperforms many other types of wood lower on the list. The Birch produces a medium amount of smoke and low amounts of heat.
There will be times when you’ll want wood that’s easy to work with and doesn’t require much work on the fire. It is very common for the bark of mature birch trees to be quite flammable, making it perfect for starting and maintaining a fire.
It’s a good idea to make a generous pile of Birch before you start your campfire since it burns faster than other woods. There are a number of different types of birch, so try them all out and see which one is right for you.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 20.8
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Poor
Important Points to Note
- In spite of its rating as ‘poor’ by many users, Birch is really just good enough for firewood according to what we’ve experienced.
- There are six types of firewood listed above that will be better choices if you can burn any of them.
- When winter isn’t at its peak and there is moderate temperature, you can still use Birch as a supplement if you have a lot available.
12. Sycamore – Poor
About – The wood of the sycamore isn’t the best for fires. Despite being a hardwood, it isn’t as effective as hardwoods like Hickory or Oak at producing heat.
As well as being difficult to split, Sycamore gives off a moderate amount of smoke. However, in situations where it is easier to procure than other types of wood, it can still be beneficial to burn.
As long as the wood has been seasoned well, sycamore firewood is easy to light. As a firewood species, it produces plenty of heat, making it a good option for creating a fire. The glory, however, lasts only a short time. Burning sycamore green also causes an unpleasant smell, according to some people.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 24.1
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Poor
Important Points to Note
- It is relatively easy to identify sycamore firewood.
- Its bark is very light and flaky, with a layer underneath that is whitish-green. It makes its appearance almost naked.
- Unlike much heavier wood like oak, Sycamore is also difficult to split.
13. Elm – Poor
About – For much of the Pacific Northwest, elm trees are common and can perform well as a heat source, but they tend to be difficult to split. Throughout Vancouver neighborhoods, dead elm trees are also common because of Dutch elm disease. As the wood is very dry, it can be used as firewood when these trees are removed.
Elm is generally not considered to be good firewood. It’s a very low heating ability, difficulty in splitting, and moderate smoke production make it unsuitable for fireplaces. In addition, Elm can produce bad smells depending on the location it grew in.
Qualities
The output of heat (BTUs): 20
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Good
- Coaling Quality: Excellent
- All in all, the quality is Poor
Important Points to Note
- Elm has two very distinct disadvantages. First of all, it has very stringy fibers. The wood is therefore very tenacious, making it among the hardest woods to split.
- Furthermore, Elms are known to absorb the scents of whatever they’re growing on. Your Elm tree is going to smell pretty bad if it grew next to a swamp or sewage pipe.
14. Aspen – Poor
About – Aspen firewood is quite frankly one of the worst woods to use for fires indoors and outdoors. There is a medium amount of smoke produced, and it produces a high amount of heat. Many people still use aspen trees for firewood, but given another kind of wood to choose from, almost anything else is better.
However, it is still a hardwood, regardless of how light it is in density. You can build a decent fire using its heat output (16.5 BTU). In any case, it burns fast, so your fire will last only a few hours at the most. Due to its good coal production and minimal smoke production, aspen is still considered suitable firewood to use, compared to much other firewood.
In general, the wood of aspen, basswood, and willow trees is soft and isn’t good for burning and generating heat. Although this wood does not spark as much as most coniferous trees, it is a little better than most.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 18.2
- Smoke production: Medium
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Slight
- Coaling Quality: Good
- All in all, the quality is Poor
Important Points to Note
- Aspen produces a light-colored wood that is commonly used for paper and other wood products.
- Containers made of Aspen are ideal for storing food. The wood is lightweight and odorless. Cheese crates, boxes, and baskets are often made from light-colored aspen.
15. Pine – Poor
About – Pine makes a great Firestarter because it is softwood. It is also important to note that pine trees contain a lot of sap and resin, and thus should only be burned outside. It is possible for creosote to build up inside the chimney when it is used indoors, which can cause a fire.
Pine burns very quickly and produces a lot of smoke and mess. Despite the wood’s pleasant smell, it is not recommended for outdoor fire pits and fireplaces without other harder woods to keep the fire burning well into the night.
Pine may surprise you by being at the bottom of the list. When it comes to firewood for practical purposes (such as heating a home with a wood stove), pine is among the worst choices. Pine makes a nice, smelly fire that doesn’t burn for a long time, which makes it good camping firewood but not good firewood to warm up indoors.
Qualities
- The output of heat (BTUs): 22
- Smoke production: High
- Spark production: Low
- Aroma or fragrance: Good
- Coaling Quality: Poor
- All in all, the quality is Poor
Important Points to Note
- Pine can cause chimney fires because it is extremely sappy and contributes greatly to the build-up of creosote.
- Note that the above information is based on Southern Yellow Pine. Pine species can vary in these numbers. White Pine, for example, has a heat output of only 15.9.
Hardwood Vs Softwood
Firstly, and most importantly, you should know that ‘hardwood’ and ‘softwood’ are different categories that each are based on the Janka Scale, which measures the hardness and softness of the wood. Cellular levels, however, determine whether a wood qualifies as hardwood or softwood.
Below are some differences between the two categories to help you understand what each one means:
- Softwood is lighter because of its density, but hardwood is heavier.
- You cannot cut and chop hardwood as easily as you can softwood.
- Softwood trees, such as pine and fir, grow more quickly than hardwoods.
- Unlike softwood trees, hardwood trees are deciduous. The leaves of hardwood trees fall annually. In contrast, softwood trees have needles rather than leaves.
- Softwood trees grow straight up while hardwood trees branch out in all directions.
- Softwood trees contain resin, while hardwood trees do not. Considering firewood makes this distinction crucial.
A hardwood tree’s cellular structure is more complex than a softwood tree’s, which affects how it grows and branches out, the rate at which it grows, and the tensile strength of its wood. Their use as firewood is impacted by this.
Some species that are classified as hardwoods may be softer than you would expect, and some softwoods may be sturdier than you anticipated. However, soft hardwoods, however, are weaker than hard softwoods.
Kiln Dried Wood Vs Seasoned Wood
Kiln-drying may be used for some firewood. With a quick online search, you can probably find it close to your home. The price may be higher, but there are advantages. Kiln-dried wood is sold commercially to restaurants that use wood stoves, as well as to gas stations and campgrounds near camping areas that sell wood bundles.
The process of seasoning wood involves storing it to dry. A freshly cut piece of wood contains about 60% water and will not burn until the moisture content drops to about 20% or lower. To season the wood, let it dry for six months to one year. Some species may take longer, and your climate may also play a role.
Rank Vs Cord of Wood
Rank and cord of wood are both the exact same thing. Each of them measures 4 feet tall, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.
Firewood Best to Worst – FAQs
Conclusion
Poorly burning wood can cause a great deal of trouble. Firewood that is rotten can irritate the lungs and, over time, may accumulate soot in the chimney, which can be dangerous. The potential for sparks and embers from firewood to cause house fires is one of our major concerns.
For the best results while burning hardwood, the fire should be hot and powerful. Occasionally, however, softwood or kindling can be useful to start the fire because it catches fire more easily.
