Firewood Btu Value Calculator
Select a wood species and enter moisture content and price per cord to estimate total BTU heat output and cost per million BTUs.
Total Usable Heat Output
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Effective BTU per Cord (million)—
Total Cost—
Cost per Million BTU—
Efficiency Loss from Moisture (%)—
About this calculator
Estimate the heat output (BTUs) and value of a cord of firewood based on wood species, moisture content, and local price per cord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does moisture content matter?
Wet or 'green' firewood wastes energy boiling off water before it can burn efficiently, reducing usable heat output. Well-seasoned wood below 20% moisture burns much more efficiently.
What's a 'cord' of wood?
A standard cord is a stack of wood measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet, or 128 cubic feet total.
Which wood species gives the most heat?
Dense hardwoods like hickory, oak, and sugar maple produce significantly more BTUs per cord than softwoods like pine.