Firewood by species / Hardwood
Extension tables · checked 2026-10-20
Cottonwood firewood
A cord of cottonwood holds about 15.8 million Btu of heat, according to the Utah State University Extension table (air-dried wood). That ranks it #46 of 52 species on this site, 21% less than the 20 million Btu the U.S. Energy Information Administration uses for a generic cord of wood.
- 1Heat per cord 15.8 million Btu
- 2Rank of 52 #46
- 3Dry weight 2,272 lb/cord
- 4Splitting Easy
How much heat is in a cord of cottonwood?
Only the Utah State University table lists cottonwood, so its 15.8 million Btu is the one figure used here. It sits 4.9 million Btu below the median species (20.75), and it is #36 of the 38 hardwoods listed, whose average is 22.1 million Btu.
One cord of gambel oak, the highest in the table, holds as much heat as 1.94 cords of cottonwood. In the other direction, a cord of cottonwood replaces 1.14 cords of buckeye (horsechestnut), the lowest. In energy terms one cord equals the heat content of about 114 gallons of heating oil, using EIA's 138,500 Btu per gallon; the stove and the oil burner each lose some of that before it reaches the room.
Cords of cottonwood for a winter
For the example house used across this site (2,000 sq ft, built in the 1970s, wood as the only heat, a 74% efficient stove), a normal winter takes:
| State | Degree days | Cottonwood | Generic cord (20 M Btu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota (coldest) | 9,184 | 8.7 cords | 6.9 cords |
| Oregon (median) | 5,269 | 5.0 cords | 3.9 cords |
| Florida (mildest) | 646 | 0.6 cords | 0.5 cords |
Because cottonwood falls short of the generic cord, the stack is 27% larger than the same winter on average wood: more splitting, carrying and stacking for the same heat. Your own house will differ; the calculator takes your state, floor area, house age and price.
Weight, splitting and how it burns
- Weight: Utah State lists 4,640 lb per cord green and 2,272 lb air-dried, so drying takes about 2,368 lb of water out of every cord. That is 17.8 lb per cubic foot of stacked cord, and roughly 1,136 lb for the half cord a full-size pickup bed holds.
- Splitting: easy (Utah State).
- Burning: medium smoke, few sparks, good coals, slight fragrance.
- Overall rating (Utah State): fair.
Whatever the species, the heat figures assume dry wood. Seasoned firewood is below 20% moisture; fresh-cut wood is 35 to 50% water by weight (CMHC), and burning it wastes heat boiling that water off. The seasoning guide and the moisture meter guide explain how to get there and check it.
What a cord of cottonwood is worth
Maine's Governor's Energy Office surveyed dealers at $355 a cord on September 21, 2026 (seasoned wood, minimum 2-cord purchase, local delivery included). Paid for as cottonwood, that is $22.47 per million Btu in the wood, or $30.36 per million Btu delivered by a 74% stove. At a flat per-cord price, a light species like this costs noticeably more per unit of heat; it is worth paying less for it, or using it for kindling and shoulder-season fires. Only two states publish a dated cord price; see Maine and New Hampshire.
Similar species
- Willow: 16 million Btu per cord (#45)
- Spruce: 15.5 million Btu per cord (#47)
- Ponderosa pine: 16.2 million Btu per cord (#44)
- Catalpa: 16.4 million Btu per cord (#43)
Compare every species on the firewood BTU chart, or see what a cord, face cord and rick hold before you buy.
Sources: Utah State University Extension Forestry, Wood Heating (Kuhns and Schmidt), Table 1 Firewood Facts (row "Cottonwood"). Last checked 2026-10-20. Price: Maine Governor's Energy Office, 2025-2026 Heating Season Weekly Fuel Prices (September 21, 2026). Method: methodology.