BTUs from Tree Species
Fire Wood BTUs by Species
Its Surprising, the difference between wood species and their output. The efficiency of the stove or fireplace makes a big difference for the actual BTU delivered to the heating system. Dan
Method of Calculation: A Cord is defined as a
tightly stacked pile of wood with the following dimensions: 4′ x 4′ x
8′. This volume (128 cubic feet) contains an average of 85 cubic feet of
wood and 43 cubic feet of air. Each pound of wood contains 8660 BTU’s,
but with well-seasoned firewood at 20% moisture, only 6200 BTU’s are
available.
Example using Osage Orange: 57 lbs/cu.ft. x 85 (cu.ft./cord) = 4845 (lbs/cord) x 6200 (btu/lb) = 30 (mbtu/cord)
(Dan's Excel Spreadsheet version by BTU)
This list was inspired by and enhanced from the fine work found in Sweep’s Library.
Its Surprising, the difference between wood species and their output. The efficiency of the stove or fireplace makes a big difference for the actual BTU delivered to the heating system. Dan
The Energy Content of Wood Species
Example using Osage Orange: 57 lbs/cu.ft. x 85 (cu.ft./cord) = 4845 (lbs/cord) x 6200 (btu/lb) = 30 (mbtu/cord)
(Dan's Excel Spreadsheet version by BTU)
Available Heat Value of Wood per Cord by Species (Sortable Table)
| Common Name | Species Name | Pounds/Cord | MBTU/Cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alder, Red or White | Alnus rubra or rhombifolia | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Apple | Malus domestica | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Ash, Black | Fraxinus nigra | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Ash, Green | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | 3,400 | 21.1 |
| Ash, Oregon | Fraxinus latifolia | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Ash, White | Fraxinus americana | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Aspen, American (Poplar) | Populus tremuloides | 2,210 | 13.7 |
| Balsa | Ochroma pyramidale | 935 | 5.8 |
| Bamboo | Poaceae bambusoideae | 1,615 | 10.0 |
| Basswood (Linden) | Tilia americana | 2,210 | 13.7 |
| Beech, American | Fagus grandifolia | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Beech, Blue (Ironwood) | Carpinus caroliniana | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Birch, Black | Betula lenta | 3,890 | 24.2 |
| Birch, Gray | Betula populifolia | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Birch, Yellow | Betula alleghaniensis | 3,570 | 22.1 |
| Birch, White (Paper) | Betula papyrifera | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Boxelder (Maple Ash) | Acer negundo | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Buckeye, Ohio | Aesculus glabra | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Butternut (White Walnut) | Juglans cinerea | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Catalpa (Catawba) | Catalpa speciosa | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar) | Juniperus virginiana | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Cedar, White (Whitecedar) | Thuja occidentalis | 1,870 | 11.6 |
| Cherry, Black | Prunus serotina | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Coffeetree, Kentucky | Gymnocladus dioicus | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Compressed Sawdust Logs * | Firelog | 2,000 | 16.5 |
| Cottonwood (Balsam Poplar) | Populus trichocarpa | 2,040 | 12.6 |
| Dogwood, Pacific | Cornus nuttallii | 3,995 | 24.8 |
| Elm, American | Ulmus americana | 2,975 | 18.4 |
| Elm, Red | Ulmus rubra | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Elm, White (Russian) | Ulmus laevis | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Eucalyptus (Red Gum) | Eucalyptus camaldulensis | 2,975 | 18.4 |
| Fir, Balsam | Abies balsamea | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Fir, Concolor (White) | Abies concolor | 2,295 | 14.2 |
| Fir, Douglas | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 2,805 | 17.4 |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Hemlock | Pinaceae tsuga | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Hickory, Bitternut | Carya cordiformis | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Hickory, Shagbark | Carya ovata | 4,080 | 25.3 |
| Holly, American | Ilex Opaca | 3,995 | 24.8 |
| Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood) | Ostrya virginiana | 4,250 | 26.4 |
| Juniper, Rocky Mtn | Juniperus scopulorum | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Locust, Black | Robinia pseudoacacia | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Locust, Honey | Gleditsia triacanthos | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus) | Arbutus menziesii | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Maple, Big Leaf | Acer macrophyllum | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Maple, Black | Acer nigrum | 3,400 | 21.1 |
| Maple, Red | Acer rubrum | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Maple, Sugar | Acer saccharum | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Maple, Silver | Acer saccharinum | 2,805 | 17.4 |
| Mulberry | Morus rubra | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood) | Umbellularia californica | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Oak, Bur (Mossycup) | Quercus macrocarpa | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Oak, Oregon (Garry) | Quercus garryana | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Oak, Post | Quercus stellata | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Oak, Red | Quercus rubra | 3,570 | 22.1 |
| Oak, White | Quercus alba | 3,910 | 24.2 |
| Osage Orange (Hedge) | Maclura pomifera | 4,845 | 30.0 |
| Persimmon, American | Diospyros virginiana | 4,165 | 25.8 |
| Pine, Jack (Canadian) | Pinus banksiana | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Pine, Lodgepole | Pinus contora latifolia | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Pine, Norway (Red) | Pinus resinosa | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Pine, Pitch | Pinus rigida | 2,635 | 16.3 |
| Pine, Ponderosa | Pinus ponderosa | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Pine, White (Eastern) | Pinus strobus | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Pine, White (Idaho) | Pinus monticola | 2,236 | 14.3 |
| Sorrel (Sourwood) | Oxydendrum arboreum | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Spruce, Engelmann | Picea engelmannii | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Spruce, Sitka | Picea sitchensis | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Spruce, Black | Picea mariana | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Sycamore, American | Platanus occidentalis | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Tamarack (Larch) | Larix laricina | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Walnut, Black | Juglans nigra | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Willow | Salix | 2,295 | 14.2 |
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