Oak, Beech or Pine? Types of Firewood and Which to Use Where?

Short answer: oak for long stove burns, pine for lighting, oak or beech in a fireplace. Heat per kilogram of dry wood barely changes between species; density makes the difference. Per the USDA Wood Handbook, a cubic metre holds about 680 kg of dry wood in white oak, 640 kg in beech and 350 kg in eastern white pine.

Current prices and types: Firewood prices →

What types of firewood are there, and where is each used?

The densities come from specific gravities in the US Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook (oven-dry mass, volume at 12% moisture; 0.68 = 680 kg of dry wood per cubic metre). These are North American species; the oak, beech and pine species in Türkiye may differ, but the ranking gives the same picture.

What sets the heat of firewood: species or moisture?

Forest Research, the UK forestry research agency, says there is little variation in calorific value between species tested at the same moisture content, and that moisture has the greatest effect. Density sets the heat per volume: denser wood means more wood, and more kilowatt-hours, in the same space. Michael Jacobson of Penn State also notes that pound for pound softwoods have more heat value, but per unit volume about half that of dense hardwoods. For calorific values by moisture, see our guide How many calories in firewood?.

Why is oak preferred in stoves?

Because it is dense. According to Forest Research, dense woods burn longer, so you top up the stove less often, and a tonne of hardwood takes up less space than a tonne of softwood. The price is drying: Forest Research gives freshly felled oak a moisture content of 47%. Oak that is not bought dry loses most of this advantage.

Our yellow oak and red oak are oak too; their sacks differ (30 kg for yellow oak, 28 kg for red oak). For ovens, see firewood for pide and pizza ovens.

How does beech burn?

Beech is close to oak in density (American beech 0.64, white oak 0.68 in the Wood Handbook), so its heat per volume is also close to oak. Well-dried beech is a good season wood in both stoves and fireplaces. For choosing fireplace wood, see the best fireplace wood.

Can you burn pine in a stove?

Yes, but its real job is lighting. Forest Research notes that softwoods are easier to light; low density also means it burns out quickly and the stove needs frequent feeding. Pine is often said to dirty the chimney more; Forest Research instead points to wet wood smouldering as the main cause of tar and smoke. Dry pine kindling is the practical way to light oak.

6-month or fully dry firewood?

Drying time matters more than species. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says wood burns best below 20% moisture and should be seasoned for at least 6 months; the University of New Hampshire suggests 6–12 months and Penn State a year or more. Forest Research notes that reaching 20% by air drying may take two summers or more.

The moisture figures on our products are sack declarations: 15-20% for dry oak firewood, 25-30% for 6-month oak firewood. On the Forest Research table, wood gives about 15.8 MJ/kg at 15% moisture and 12.6 MJ/kg at 30%; about 20% less per kilogram. If 6-month wood keeps drying off the ground, with airflow and only the top covered, the gap closes: how to dry firewood and tell if it is wet.

What does it depend on?

• Moisture: the biggest factor in heat; aim for below 20%.
• Density: sets heat per volume and burn time.
• Use: dense wood for an all-night stove, pine for lighting.
• Quantity: for sacks and steres see how many sacks and steres in 1 tonne; for seasonal needs, our fuel calculator.

To compare our oak varieties, see our oak firewood page.

Safety

All firewood produces smoke and carbon monoxide. The CDC describes carbon monoxide as an odourless, colourless gas; Türkiye's Ministry of Health lists headache, dizziness and weakness as the first signs. If you suspect it, ventilate, leave the room and call 112. See stove gas symptoms and carbon monoxide detectors. Keep a glass or metal screen in front of a fireplace against sparks (USFA).

Frequently asked questions

What is the best firewood?

The dry one. Heat per kilogram differs little between species; per volume, dense hardwoods such as oak give the most.

Oak or beech?

Very close by volume (specific gravity 0.68 and 0.64). Whichever is drier burns better.

Does pine dirty the chimney?

Forest Research links tar and smoke build-up to wet wood and smouldering. Use dry pine for lighting and dense wood as the main fuel.

How can I tell if firewood is dry?

According to the University of New Hampshire, dry wood has deep cracks at the ends, rings when knocked together and is lighter than green wood; a moisture meter is the most reliable test.

Sources: USDA FPL, Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190), Table 5–3a; Forest Research, “Wood as Fuel – Technical Supplement”, “Wood as Fuel” and calorific value vs moisture spreadsheet; Penn State, Michael Jacobson; EPA Burn Wise; UNH Extension; USFA Heating Fire Safety; CDC, carbon monoxide; Ministry of Health, CO poisoning.