Firewood BTU Calculator — Heat Output by Wood Species

Select a wood species and quantity to calculate total heat output. Results update in real time.

Red Oak
0.25510

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

24,600,000 BTU/cord · 3,528 lbs/cord

Total Heat Output

49.2M BTU

at 70% appliance efficiency

Fuel Equivalents

This amount of Red Oak produces the same usable heat as:

Propane

at default prices

418.2 gallons

$1,045.54

Heating Oil

at default prices

292.5 gallons

$1,023.91

Natural Gas

at default prices

374.3 therms

$449.22

Electricity

at default prices

10,093.8 kWhs

$1,312.19

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select Wood Species: Choose your firewood species from the dropdown. You can search by common or scientific name.
  2. Enter Amount: Input the number of cords or weight in pounds of your firewood.
  3. Choose Appliance: Select your wood-burning appliance to factor in efficiency.
  4. Review Results: See total BTU output and fuel equivalents for propane, oil, gas, and electricity.

Understanding BTU and Firewood

BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the standard measure of heat energy. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. When comparing firewood species, BTU per cord tells you how much heat you can extract from a standard 128-cubic-foot stack of wood.

Dense hardwoods like Oak and Hickory pack more BTU per cord because they contain more wood fiber per unit volume. Softwoods ignite faster and are great for kindling, but you'll burn through them quicker. The ideal firewood strategy often combines both: softwood to start the fire and hardwood for sustained heat.

Last updated: December 2024