The honest answer is “it depends,” but it depends on only a few things: what you burn in, how often, and for how many months. Plug yours into the calculator, then read the table below to see where the numbers come from.
How much firewood do I need?
A rough estimate for seasoned hardwood. House size, insulation and how hot you like it all move the number.
Rough firewood needs for a Morris County winter
These are typical ranges for seasoned hardwood over a five month season, about November through March. They are starting points, not promises.
| How you burn | Typical amount per season | What I would order |
|---|---|---|
| Fire pit, a few times a month | 1/4 to 1/2 cord | Half cord |
| Open fireplace, a few times a month | About 1/2 cord | Half cord |
| Open fireplace, most weekends | 1/2 to 1 cord | Full cord |
| Open fireplace, most nights | 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cords | Two cords, top up later |
| Stove or insert, evenings and weekends | 1 to 1 1/2 cords | Full cord, maybe a half later |
| Stove or insert, most nights | 2 to 3 cords | Two to three cords |
| Stove as your main heat | 3 to 5 cords or more | Call and talk it through |
What pushes the number up or down?
- Dry wood. Wet wood wastes heat boiling off water. Seasoned hardwood goes further. See how to tell if wood is seasoned.
- Species. A cord of oak or hickory holds noticeably more heat than a cord of soft maple or birch. See best firewood for a fireplace.
- Open fireplace vs stove. An open fireplace sends much of its heat up the chimney. A stove or insert gets far more heat into the room from the same wood.
- Where you live in the county. The northern and western towns, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Mount Olive, run colder than the towns down near Madison and Chatham.
- The winter itself. A cold January can eat a quarter cord on its own.
Order a little more than you think
Running out in February is worse than having a half cord left in April. Leftover wood, kept off the ground and covered on top, just keeps drying and burns even better next fall.
Full cord $350, half cord $250, delivery included anywhere in Morris County. Not sure? Call (973) 590-4899, tell me what you burn in and how often, and I will tell you straight. You can also check firewood prices in Morris County before you call.