Here are two charts showing the weight and available heat content of one cord of firewood of various species, the first sorted by heat value, and the second sorted alphabetically for easy lookup. The heat value measurement used is the British Thermal Unit, or BTU, which is defined as the amount of thermal energy it takes to raise one pound of water one degree F. One MBTU = one million BTUs.
Sorted By Heat Value
| Common Name | Species Name | Pounds /Cord | MBTU /Cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osage Orange (Hedge) | Maclura pomifera | 4,845 | 30.0 |
| Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood) | Ostrya virginiana | 4,250 | 26.4 |
| Persimmon, American | Diospyros virginiana | 4,165 | 25.8 |
| Hickory, Shagbark | Carya ovata | 4,080 | 25.3 |
| Dogwood, Pacific | Cornus nuttallii | 3,995 | 24.8 |
| Holly, American | Ilex Opaca | 3,995 | 24.8 |
| Birch, Black | Betula lenta | 3,910 | 24.2 |
| Oak, White | Quercus alba | 3,910 | 24.2 |
| Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus) | Arbutus menziesii | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Oak, Post | Quercus stellata | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Locust, Honey | Gleditsia triacanthos | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Hickory, Bitternut | Carya cordiformis | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Beech, Blue (Ironwood) | Carpinus caroliniana | 3,825 | 23.7 |
| Mulberry | Morus rubra | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Locust, Black | Robinia pseudoacacia | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Maple, Sugar | Acer saccharum | 3,740 | 23.2 |
| Beech, American | Fagus grandifolia | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Oak, Oregon (Garry) | Quercus garryana | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Oak, Bur (Mossycup) | Quercus macrocarpa | 3,655 | 22.7 |
| Oak, Red | Quercus rubra | 3,570 | 22.1 |
| Birch, Yellow | Betula alleghaniensis | 3,570 | 22.1 |
| Ash, White | Fraxinus americana | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Myrtle, Oregon (Pepperwood) | Umbellularia californica | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Apple | Malus domestica | 3,485 | 21.6 |
| Ash, Green | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | 3,400 | 21.1 |
| Maple, Black | Acer nigrum | 3,400 | 21.1 |
| Walnut, Black | Juglans nigra | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Maple, Red | Acer rubrum | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Ash, Oregon | Fraxinus latifolia | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Birch, White (Paper) | Betula papyrifera | 3,230 | 20.0 |
| Tamarack (Larch) | Larix laricina | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Birch, Gray | Betula populifolia | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Juniper, Rocky Mtn | Juniperus scopulorum | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Cherry, Black | Prunus serotina | 3,145 | 19.5 |
| Coffeetree, Kentucky | Gymnocladus dioicus | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Sorrel (Sourwood) | Oxydendrum arboreum | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Elm, Red | Ulmus rubra | 3,060 | 19.0 |
| Eucalyptus (Red Gum) | Eucalyptus camaldulensis | 2,975 | 18.4 |
| Elm, American | Ulmus americana | 2,975 | 18.4 |
| Sycamore, American | Platanus occidentalis | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Maple, Big Leaf | Acer macrophyllum | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Elm, White (Russian) | Ulmus laevis | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Ash, Black | Fraxinus nigra | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Boxelder (Maple Ash) | Acer negundo | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Pine, Norway (Red) | Pinus resinosa | 2,890 | 17.9 |
| Fir, Douglas | Pseudotsuga menzies II | 2,805 | 17.4 |
| Maple, Silver | Acer saccharinum | 2,805 | 17.4 |
| Compressed Sawdust Logs* | Presto homofecit stipes | 2,000 | 17.0 |
| Pine, Pitch | Pinus rigida | 2,635 | 17.0 |
| Pine, Lodgepole | Pinus contora latifolia | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Hemlock | Pinaceae tsuga | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Spruce, Black | Picea mariana | 2,465 | 15.3 |
| Catalpa (Catawba) | Catalpa speciosa | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Pine, Ponderosa | Pinus ponderosa | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Alder, Red or White | Alnus rubra or rhombifolia | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Pine, Jack (Canadian) | Pinus banksiana | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Spruce, Sitka | Picea sitchensis | 2,380 | 14.8 |
| Pine, White (Idaho) | Pinus monticola | 2,236 | 14.3 |
| Willow | Salix | 2,295 | 14.2 |
| Fir, Concolor (White) | Abies concolor | 2,295 | 14.2 |
| Basswood (Linden) | Tilia americana | 2,210 | 13.7 |
| Aspen, American (Poplar) | Populus tremuloides | 2,210 | 13.7 |
| Butternut (White Walnut) | Juglans cinerea | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Pine, White (Eastern) | Pinus strobus | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Fir, Balsam | Abies balsamea | 2,125 | 13.2 |
| Cottonwood (Poplar) | Populus trichocarpa | 2,040 | 12.6 |
| Spruce, Engelmann | Picea engelmannii | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Cedar, Eastern (Redcedar) | Juniperus virginiana | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Buckeye, Ohio | Aesculus glabra | 1,955 | 12.1 |
| Cedar, White (Whitecedar) | Thuja occidentalis | 1,870 | 11.6 |
| Bamboo | Poaceae bambusoideae | 1,615 | 10.0 |
| Balsa | Ochroma pyramidale | 935 | 5.8 |
Sorted Alphabetically
| 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 * | Presto homofecit stipes | 2,000 | 17.0 |
| Cottonwood (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 menzies II | 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 |