Heating Comparison of Wood Species

Species Density Weight per BTUs per cord Recoverable BTUs Units needed to
  (lb./cu.ft.)  cord (lb.)  (millions)  per cord (millions)  produce 1 million BTUs 
black locust 52.5 4462 28.5 19.95 0.051
hickory 50.9 4327 27.7 19.39 0.052
east hophornbeam 50.2 4267 27.3 19.11 0.052
apple  48.7 4100 26.5 18.55 0.054
white oak  47.2 4012 25.7 17.99 0.056
sugar maple  44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.06
red oak  44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.06
beech 44.2 3757 24 16.8 0.06
yellow birch  43.4 3689 23.6 16.52 0.061
white ash  43.4 3689 23.6 16.52 0.061
hackberry 38.2 3247 20.8 14.56 0.069
tamarack 38.2 3247 20.8 14.56 0.069
paper birch  37.4 3179 20.3 14.21 0.07
cherry 36.7 3121 20 14 0.071
elm 35.9 3052 19.5 13.65 0.073
black ash  35.2 2992 19.1 13.37 0.075
red maple  34.4 2924 18.7 13.09 0.076
box elder  32.9 2797 17.9 12.53 0.08
jack pine  31.4 2669 17.1 11.97 0.084
norway pine  31.4 2669 17.1 11.97 0.084
hemlock 29.2 2482 15.9 11.13 0.09
black spruce  29.2 2482 15.9 11.13 0.09
ponderosa pine  28 2380 15.2 10.64 0.094
aspen 27 2290 14.7 10.29 0.097
white pine  26.3 2236 14.3 10.01 0.1
balsam fir  26.3 2236 14.3 10.01 0.1
cottonwood 24.8 2108 13.5 9.45 0.106
basswood 24.8 2108 13.5 9.45 0.106