Boxelder Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Acer negundo

BTU per Cord

17,900,000

Density

2,632 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

fair

Seasoning Time

6 months

Availability

common

A soft maple that burns similarly to other low-density hardwoods. Easy to split and seasons quickly, but burns fast with less heat. Produces a mild, slightly unpleasant smell when green. Best used as shoulder-season wood or mixed with denser species.

Pros

  • +Easy to split
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Seasons relatively quickly (6 months)
  • +Widely available

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -fair coaling quality

Best Uses for Boxelder

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

Wood Stove

Usable but lower heat

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning Boxelder

Boxelder requires approximately 6 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

Alder

17,500,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Red Maple

18,600,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Sassafras

18,900,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Sycamore

19,500,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024