Find Firewood in Your State

FAQs

  • Why does firewood need to be split?

    Splitting firewood accelerates drying by exposing more surface area, enables proper ignition and combustion, and creates manageable sizes for efficient burning.

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  • What firewood produces the best coals?

    Oak and hickory produce the best, longest-lasting coals. Black locust also excels where available, while ash provides good coals with easier processing.

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  • What’s the hottest burning firewood?

    Osage orange burns hottest at 32-33 million BTUs per cord, followed by hickory and black locust. Oak offers the best balance of heat and availability.

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  • Can you burn green (unseasoned) wood?

    You can burn green wood, but shouldn’t—it produces minimal heat, maximum smoke, dangerous creosote buildup, and wastes money.

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  • What’s the best firewood for a fireplace?

    Oak, ash, and maple are best for fireplaces, offering long burn times, good heat, and minimal smoke when properly seasoned.

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Calculating your winter firewood needs depends on several variables including your climate, home size, insulation quality, how often you burn fires, and whether wood is your primary or supplementary heat source. While every situation differs, understanding these factors helps you estimate accurately and avoid running short mid-winter.

For primary heating in cold climates, most households need 3-6 full cords per winter season. Homes in moderate climates using wood as the main heat source typically need 2-4 cords. If you’re using firewood for supplemental heating or ambiance a few times per week, 1-2 cords usually suffices for the entire winter.

Climate plays the most significant role. Northern states with long, harsh winters obviously require more wood than southern regions. A home in Minnesota will need substantially more than the same-sized home in Tennessee. Consider your average winter temperatures and how many months you’ll be burning fires regularly.

Home characteristics matter too. Larger homes require more wood to heat. Well-insulated, modern homes with efficient wood stoves need less than drafty, older homes with traditional fireplaces. A fireplace loses much of its heat up the chimney, while a modern wood stove can heat efficiently with significantly less wood.

As a practical calculation method, track your usage for the first few weeks of burning. If you use half a cord in November, multiply by the number of winter months to estimate total needs. Always add 20-30% as a safety buffer—running out of firewood in January is inconvenient and expensive, as prices often increase during peak season.

First-time wood burners should start with 2-3 cords and monitor consumption. You can always order more, but storing excess wood through warm months requires space and proper technique.