Douglas Fir Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Pseudotsuga menziesii

BTU per Cord

20,700,000

Density

2,970 lbs/cord

Category

softwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

medium

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

fair

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

regional

The best softwood for firewood by BTU output. Burns hotter than many hardwoods. Produces moderate sparking and some creosote if not fully seasoned. Widely available in the western United States. Splits easily and seasons reasonably fast.

Pros

  • +Easy to split

Cons

  • -fair coaling quality

Best Uses for Douglas Fir

Open Fireplace

Acceptable — use a screen

Wood Stove

Good choice

Campfire

Great — easy to light and splits easily

Smoking/Cooking

Not recommended — resinous flavor

Seasoning Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir requires approximately 12 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

Tamarack

20,800,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Juniper

21,600,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Eastern Red Cedar

18,200,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Lodgepole Pine

17,700,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

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Last updated: December 2024