Cottonwood Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Populus deltoides

BTU per Cord

15,800,000

Density

2,272 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

poor

Seasoning Time

6 months

Availability

common

Very light and fast-burning. Often the only available firewood in plains states. Easy to split but produces low heat and poor coals. Can have an unpleasant smell. Best used for campfires or mixed with better wood in a stove.

Pros

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

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -poor coaling quality

Best Uses for Cottonwood

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 Cottonwood

Cottonwood 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

Quaking Aspen

14,700,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Willow

14,500,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Alder

17,500,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Boxelder

17,900,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024