Firewood Calculator
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Home Size (sq ft)
800
1,200
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
Winter Months
3 mo
4 mo
5 mo
6 mo
7 mo
Insulation Quality
Poor — Old home, no insulation, single-pane windows
Average — Standard insulation, double-pane windows
Good — Well-insulated, newer construction
Excellent — Super-insulated, passive house level
Heating Usage
Primary Heat Source
Supplemental (50%)
Occasional/Ambiance (25%)
Wood Type
Oak (White) — 29.1M BTU/cord
Oak (Red) — 27.3M BTU/cord
Maple (Sugar) — 29.0M BTU/cord
Hickory — 30.6M BTU/cord
Ash — 24.0M BTU/cord
Birch — 23.4M BTU/cord
Cherry — 20.4M BTU/cord
Pine (White) — 15.8M BTU/cord
Douglas Fir — 20.7M BTU/cord
Elm — 24.5M BTU/cord
Cords Needed
3.00
0.60 /month
Face Cords
9.0
384 cu ft
Total BTU
87.3M
Oak (White)
Estimated Cost
$900
$300/cord
Copy Summary
Heating Cost Comparison (Same BTU Output)
Fuel Type
Est. Cost
vs Firewood
Firewood (Oak (White))
$900
—
Propane ($2.50/gal)
$2,385
+165%
Natural Gas ($1.20/therm)
$1,048
+16%
Electric ($0.13/kWh)
$3
-100%
Firewood Reference Guide
Wood Type
BTU/Cord (M)
Cost/Cord
Splitting
Notes
Oak (White)
Selected
29.1
$300
Moderate
Excellent heat, burns slow and steady
Oak (Red)
27.3
$280
Moderate
Great all-around firewood
Maple (Sugar)
29.0
$310
Moderate
Hot, long-burning coals
Hickory
30.6
$320
Hard
Hottest burning common hardwood
Ash
24.0
$250
Easy
Easy to split, burns clean
Birch
23.4
$240
Easy
Burns fast, good kindling
Cherry
20.4
$260
Easy
Pleasant aroma, moderate heat
Pine (White)
15.8
$180
Easy
Burns fast, more creosote, use for kindling
Douglas Fir
20.7
$200
Easy
Good softwood option
Elm
24.5
$220
Very Hard
Stringy grain, hard to split
Firewood Quick Facts
Full Cord
4' x 4' x 8'
128 cubic feet of stacked wood
Face Cord
4' x 8' x 16"
1/3 of a full cord
Seasoning Time
6-12 months
Split and stack for best results
Moisture Target
< 20%
Use a moisture meter to check
Storage
Off ground, covered top
Allow air circulation on sides
Chimney Cleaning
Annually
Essential for creosote buildup