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The Daily Insight

What tree makes the best firewood?

Author

Daniel Lopez

Updated on February 26, 2026

Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.

Which wood should you not burn?

Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with "poison" in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.

Do all trees make good firewood?

Some areas have a plentiful supply of hardwoods, while others have an abundant supply of softwoods. There are thousands of tree species, and each one has its unique traits. Because of that, some trees make better firewood than others.

What type of wood burns the hottest?

Which Types of Firewood Burn The Hottest?

  • Osage orange, 32.9 BTUs per cord.
  • Shagbark hickory, 27.7 BTUs per cord.
  • Eastern hornbeam, 27.1 BTUs per cord.
  • Black birch, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
  • Black locust, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
  • Blue beech, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
  • Ironwood, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
  • Bitternut hickory, 26.5 BTUs per cord.

What is the best firewood in the world?

22 of the Best Firewood Choices You Can Burn This Winter

  • Apple. ...
  • Birch. ...
  • Cherry. ...
  • Maple. ...
  • Pine. ...
  • Walnut. Walnut is one of those types of wood that are great all the way around. ...
  • Black Locust. This tree is one that isn't available all over. ...
  • Ironwood. Ironwood is another type of firewood that is known for producing high heat.

Best Trees for Firewood

What type of wood burns the longest?

Hickory is the Longest Burning Wood

It's simple, really: it takes longer for the fire to consume hardwood because there is more fuel “packed” into each log. Hickory has the highest density among firewood (37-58 lbs/ft.3), and therefore burns for the longest time.

What is the slowest burning wood?

Dense, properly seasoned hardwoods burn the slowest and longest because there is more wood packed into every square inch, so it takes longer for the fire to get through. Oak, maple, ash, hickory, cherry, apple, hornbeam, walnut, hawthorn, and Osage orange trees are the slowest burning firewoods.

What is the best and worst firewood?

Wood Types: Best to Worst

  • Thorn – Very Good – One of the best woods for burning. ...
  • Walnut – Fair – Is overall a fair wood for burning. ...
  • Willow – Poor – Does not burn well even when seasoned. ...
  • Yew – Very Good – Very high heat output that lasts a very long time.

What wood burns with least smoke?

Firewoods That Produce The Least Amount of Smoke

  1. Ash. Ash firewood is a great all-around firewood, produces almost no smoke, puts off a moderate amount of heat, and is a quick seasoning wood. ...
  2. Oak. ...
  3. Maple. ...
  4. Applewood. ...
  5. Beech. ...
  6. Black Locust. ...
  7. Hickory. ...
  8. Black Walnut.

Is pine a good firewood?

Pine is terrible when it comes to coal production and it is, by far, one of the worst wood types to burn if you want a consistent overnight fire. However, it does make it a good type of wood for outdoor fires because it will burn out quite fast and you won't have to stay up for too long to supervise it.

What is the hardest wood to split?

Here, we list the top 10 hardest woods in the world, and provide a bit of information about each type:

  • Lignum vitae – 4,500 IBF. ...
  • Piptadenia Macrocarpa – 3,840 IBF. ...
  • Snakewood – 3,800 IBF. ...
  • Brazilian Olivewood – 3,700 IBF. ...
  • Brazilian Ebony – 3,692 IBF. ...
  • Brazilian Walnut – 3,684 IBF. ...
  • African Pearwood – 3,680 IBF.

What is the fastest growing tree for firewood?

The Usain Bolt of trees – willow is the quickest tree out of the blocks! Incredible high yield biomass growth in just 4 years. Let's look at the pros first – easy to grow, cheap planting stock, very fast growing, excellent yield and good form. You can produce log scale willow in just 4 years.

Do potato peels clean chimneys?

Potato peels and acorns help prevent creosote buildup in your chimney. Save your potato skins and collect acorns in the autumn. Just a handful thrown on top of a burning fire can help keep your chimney in good shape.

What trees are toxic to burn?

Burning poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac and poisonwood creates smoke with irritant oils that can cause severe breathing problems and eye irritation.

Can firewood be too old?

Firewood can be stored for approximately four years without any issues. Burning slightly older wood is better because green, freshly cut firewood does not burn as well. To get the most of your firewood over time, store the wood raised off the bare ground in a sheltered location.

What wood burns brightest?

Hickory. Hickory firewood is one of the best woods for burning. Hickory is even hotter burning than oak, maple and other popular hardwoods. Hickory is a dense hardwood that can be tough to split, but holds little moisture and burns very well.

What wood sparks the most?

Softwoods such as conifers and pines are more likely to spark due to their high resin content. If you see dry, amber sap that's oozed out and dried on the wood, this is likely resin. Be aware that this type of wood burns hot and throws sparks more easily than other woods.

Is poplar a good firewood?

Poplar produces a similar amount of BTUs as aspen and cottonwood. Because poplar doesn't burn for very long, it's not the best choice for home heating. You won't see a poplar fire burn overnight.

What is the most expensive firewood?

THE MOST EXPENSIVE WOOD IN THE WORLD

  • Grenadil, African Blackwood. This wood is one of the most expensive on the planet. ...
  • Agar Wood. Agar wood is a valuable plant found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia. ...
  • Black wood (Ebony) ...
  • Sandalwood. ...
  • Amaranth, Purple Heart. ...
  • Dalbergia. ...
  • Bubinga. ...
  • Bocote, Cordia (Bocote, Cordia)

What is the best burning firewood?

Oak: Known for its long, slow burns, oak is likely the best firewood wood. Oak is a dense hardwood available throughout most regions of North America. While oak wood can take a little longer to become properly seasoned than other firewoods, the fire from well seasoned oak in your wood stove can't be beat.

How long should wood dry before burning?

It can take 3-12 months or longer to season firewood. On average, it usually takes around 6-months to dry out the cut-firewood that you purchased from a store or supplier. Depending on the original timber's moisture content, it can take more or less time to season.

What burns longer oak or hickory?

With over 600 different varieties, it's easy to find a type of oak firewood to suit your needs. Although it doesn't burn as long as hickory, oak produces bright and steady flames that will light up your backyard for hours.

Is Wild Cherry Good firewood?

Cherry—Cherry wood is one of the most popular woods to burn in fireplaces due to its pleasant, non-smoky aroma. It is very east to split, tends to burn at a medium heat, and does not produce much smoke. However, it tends to spark a little more than the average hardwood and can cost a little more than the average wood.

Does oak make good firewood?

Oak for Firewood

The best-known firewoods are white and red oak trees. The wood from these oak trees is prized for its strength and density, and that density makes it one of the best at producing heat.