Firewood Calculator
Calculate how many cords of firewood you need for the heating season based on your stove size, climate, and season length.
Firewood Needed
Firewood estimation depends on stove size, usage, and season length.
A cord of firewood is a stack measuring 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft = 128 cubic feet.
Typical usage by stove size:
- Small stove (40,000 BTU): ~2–3 cords/season
- Medium stove (60,000 BTU): ~3–5 cords/season
- Large stove (80,000+ BTU): ~5–7 cords/season
Factors affecting usage:
- Climate zone: Colder = more wood
- Home insulation: Poor insulation doubles usage
- Wood type: Hardwood (oak, maple) burns longer than softwood (pine, spruce)
- Primary vs. supplemental: Primary heating uses 2–3× more
BTU per cord by wood type:
- Oak: 24–28 million BTU
- Maple: 22–25 million BTU
- Birch: 20–23 million BTU
- Pine: 15–18 million BTU
Average US home needs ~60 million BTU per heating season