Willow Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Salix nigra

BTU per Cord

14,500,000

Density

2,136 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

poor

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

common

One of the lowest-BTU hardwoods. Very high moisture content when green, so thorough seasoning is essential. Burns fast with little heat. Generally considered poor firewood, but usable when nothing else is available. Easy to split.

Pros

  • +Easy to split
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Widely available

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -poor coaling quality

Best Uses for Willow

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 Willow

Willow 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

Quaking Aspen

14,700,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Cottonwood

15,800,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Alder

17,500,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Boxelder

17,900,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

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Last updated: December 2024