The best firewood for a fireplace is dense hardwood that has been seasoned until it is dry. Species matters, but dry matters more. A dry piece of birch beats a wet piece of oak every time.
Which hardwood gives the most heat?
Heat content is measured in million BTUs per cord. Published charts vary a little from source to source, but they line up on the order. These are typical figures for seasoned wood.
| Species | Approx. million BTU per cord | How it burns |
|---|---|---|
| Shagbark hickory | About 27 to 28 | Hottest common hardwood. Long burn, great coals. |
| White oak | About 25 to 26 | Long, steady burn and deep coals. Slow to season. |
| Red oak | About 24 | Classic fireplace wood. Needs a full season to dry. |
| Sugar (hard) maple | About 24 | Hot, steady, easy to light. |
| White ash | About 23 to 24 | Lights easy, burns clean, dries faster than oak. |
| White (paper) birch | About 20 | Lights fast, bright flame, burns quicker. Bark makes great fire starter. |
| Red (soft) maple | About 18 to 19 | Decent, but less heat per cord. |
| Eastern white pine, for comparison | About 14 | Softwood. Fine for kindling, burns fast. |
Why a hardwood mix works well
Every load I deliver is a mix of maple, oak, hickory, birch and ash from local tree work in Morris County. That mix is good for a fireplace on purpose. Birch and ash catch fast and get the fire going. Oak, hickory and maple carry it and build a bed of coals.
A simple way to use it: start with a couple of birch or ash splits over kindling, then add oak or hickory once the fire is going.
What should you never burn in a fireplace?
- Painted, stained or pressure-treated wood
- Plywood, particleboard or pallets with chemical treatment stamps
- Trash, glossy paper or big piles of cardboard
- Wet or green wood
The EPA’s Burn Wise page has the full list and good fire-building tips.
Is softwood bad for a fireplace?
Not dangerous if it is dry, but it burns fast and gives less heat per armload. It makes good kindling. Creosote comes mostly from wet wood and cool, smoky fires, not from the species itself. Dry wood and a hot fire are what keep a chimney clean, along with a yearly sweep.
What size should the splits be?
Most fireplaces and many stoves take 12 to 16 inch pieces. Mine run about 12 to 14 inches. Measure your firebox front to back before you order from anyone.
Ready to burn? Full cord $350, half cord $250, delivered anywhere in Morris County. See how much firewood you need or call (973) 590-4899.