Firewood Calculator — Cords Needed to Heat Your Home

Firewood BTU Calculator

Find out how many cords of firewood you need for the heating season — by wood species, home size, and climate. Includes a full species BTU comparison chart.

Home Size (sq ft)

Insulation Quality

Climate / Heating Degree Days

Primary Wood Species

Stove / Fireplace Efficiency

Supplemental Heat?

Cords Needed

—

cords

/ season

BTU Required

—

BTU

/ season

Stack Size

—

4×8 ft rows needed

Estimated Cost

—

at $300/cord avg

Wood Species BTU Comparison

Species	BTU / Cord (millions)	Notes
🪵 Osage Orange / Hedge Apple	32M	Highest BTU of any common wood. Burns very hot.
🪵 Black Locust	27M	Excellent — dense, splits well, great coals.
🪵 Hickory	28M	Top tier. Dense, long-burning, great for overnight fires.
🪵 White Oak	29M	Best all-around firewood. Slow to season (2 years).
🪵 Beech / Ash	24M	Ash is prized for splitting easily and burning well green.
🪵 Hard Maple	24M	Good coals, moderate density, seasons in 12–18 months.
🪵 Cherry	20M	Burns fragrant. Less dense than oak but pleasant.
🪵 Birch	20M	Burns fast and bright. Good kindling but goes quick.
🪵 Pine / Spruce	16M	Burns fast, lower BTU, more creosote. Use well-seasoned.
🪵 Cottonwood / Willow	13M	Low BTU, poor coals. Use only as shoulder-season wood.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cords of firewood do I need for winter?

For a 1,500 sq ft well-insulated home in a moderate climate using wood as the primary heat source, plan on 3–5 cords of hardwood per heating season. Cold climates or poorly insulated homes may need 6–8 cords. This calculator gives you a precise estimate by wood species and efficiency.

What is the difference between a cord and a face cord of firewood?

A full cord is a stacked pile 4 feet wide × 4 feet tall × 8 feet long (128 cubic feet). A face cord (also called a rick) is 4×8 feet but only as deep as the log length — typically 16 inches — making it about one-third of a full cord. Always clarify which you're buying.

Which firewood has the most BTUs?

Osage orange (hedge apple) leads at around 32 million BTU per cord. Oak and hickory follow closely at 28–29 million BTU per cord. These dense hardwoods produce long-lasting coals and are the most efficient firewood. Softwoods like pine produce 15–16 million BTU per cord and burn much faster.