Cedar vs Pine Firewood: Which One Should You Buy?

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Example figures are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 21 October 2026.

What each side is for: cedar vs pine firewood

The cedar example is a fire starter: 100 discs of cedar wood and paraffin meant to light wood stoves, campfires, grill pits and fireplaces. The pine example is a cooking log: 6 roasting logs meant to replace carrying firewood bundles for campfire cooking. That difference in purpose drives everything else. If your goal is to light the stove on a cold morning, the cedar side’s up-to-400-fires claim is the figure that matters; if your goal is s’mores after dinner, the pine side’s under-5-minutes claim is.

Burn time and how far a box goes

The Super Cedar listing states each starter burns for 30 minutes and the 100-count box starts up to 400 fires. The Pine Mountain listing states 3 roasting logs burn for up to 1 hour, with one carton holding enough for 2 uses. Neither listing states the other side’s figures, so there is no fair head-to-head winner on burn time: compare 30 minutes per starter against up to 1 hour per 3-log cooking session, and match that to how you actually burn.

Cooking and indoor use

Only the pine side is for cooking: the listing states food grade ingredients and a USDA Certified Biobased mark, and names campfires, fire pits and fireplaces for outdoor and indoor use. The cedar side makes no food claim at all. The pine listing also says the logs light fast and easy, with the cooking fire ready in under 5 minutes. For indoor fireplaces the pine side’s cooking-safe claim is the relevant one; for simply starting a stove fire, the cedar side’s waterproof discs have the edge on the listing’s own terms.

Two examples

How we scored them

Each example is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes. The weights are on our How We Pick page. Neither listing states a safety certification or a warranty term, so both score zero on those two criteria; the ranking comes from stated burn figures, build and value.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.

Around the Woodpile

• Store the 100-count firestarter box somewhere dry; the discs are stated waterproof, but the box still wants a dry corner.
• Stack 3 roasting logs per occasion as the Pine Mountain listing instructs; the carton holds enough for 2 uses.
• Give each firestarter its stated 30 minutes before adding larger wood, so the fire catches instead of smothering.
• Keep both products away from open flame in storage; firestarters are made to light easily.

How to use each side for starting fires

The cedar side is a fire starter. The Super Cedar listing states a 100-count box that starts up to 400 fires, with each starter burning for 30 minutes. That is four fires per starter by the makers own count. Use one starter per fire and keep the box dry; a damp starter will not catch.

The pine side is a cooking log. The Pine Mountain listing states 3 roasting logs burn for up to 1 hour, that one carton holds enough for 2 uses, and that the cooking fire is ready in under 5 minutes. The listing also states food grade ingredients, which is why the pine side is the stated choice for campfire cooking while the cedar listing makes no food-grade claim.

Do not treat either as cordwood. Both listings describe fire helpers: the cedar starts the fire, the pine cooks over it. For heating, the listings point to species comparisons for actual cordwood, and neither listing states a BTU figure or a cord price, so there is no heating value to compare here.

Storage differs by form. The cedar starters are small and boxed; the pine roasting logs come in a carton sized for 2 uses. Keep both dry and away from open flame until use, and follow the 5-minute ready claim by giving the pine logs the full stated time before cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cedar or pine better firewood?

This comparison does not cover cordwood. The cedar example is a box of firestarter discs and the pine example is a pack of cooking logs; both are fire helpers, not firewood. For actual cordwood, see our species comparisons linked below.

Can I cook over cedar firestarters?

The cedar listing makes no food-grade claim, so for cooking, the pine side’s roasting logs are the stated choice. The Pine Mountain roasting logs state food grade ingredients and are made for campfire cooking. Use the product whose listing matches your use.

How many fires does the Super Cedar box start?

The listing states the 100-count box starts up to 400 fires, with each starter burning for 30 minutes. That is the maker’s claim from its own listing.

How long do Pine Mountain roasting logs burn?

The listing states 3 roasting logs burn for up to 1 hour, and that one carton holds enough for 2 uses. The cooking fire is stated ready in under 5 minutes.

Are roasting logs the same as firewood?

No. The Pine Mountain listing says the logs replace carrying and storing firewood bundles for cooking fires. They are cooking logs, not split cordwood, and they suit campfire cooking rather than heating a house.

Related guides

See the ash vs oak firewood and poplar vs pine firewood comparisons, can you burn pine in a wood stove, and the best fire starters for wood stoves. Also see the best fire starter for a cold stove, the best fire starter for damp wood and the best fire starter for indoor fireplace.