Oak Firewood

Oak is the benchmark firewood across much of the eastern half of the country. Red oaks and white oaks both make excellent heating wood once dry, with white oak a little denser and slower to season. Its reputation comes from long burns and a deep bed of coals, but only after it has had enough time to dry.

Oak (red and white) firewood at a glance

Heat per cord: 24.0 (red) to 25.7 (white) million BTU
Weight per cord: 4,000 lb (air-dried)
Ease of splitting: ●●●●○ 4 of 5
Seasoning time: 12 to 24 months
Smoke: Low
Sparks: Few
Coals: Excellent
Scent: Mild, slightly sour when green
Type: Hardwood
Common in (US): Northeast, Midwest, South, Appalachia

Also called: Northern red oak, White oak, Bur oakHeat and weight are typical published figures for air-dried wood at about 20% moisture. Real loads vary with moisture, growing conditions and how the cord is stacked. Compare all species.

Splitting oak

Straight-grained red oak splits cleanly, often with one swing of a maul on smaller rounds. White oak and bur oak are tougher, and crotches and knots from big trees can stall a small splitter. Many people find oak splits as well or better green than dry.

Seasoning oak

Oak is slow. Split, stacked off the ground and top-covered in a sunny, breezy spot, red oak usually needs at least a year and white oak often closer to two. Oak cut, split and burned the same winter is the most common cause of a smoky, sluggish stove.

Burning oak

Dry oak burns steadily with low smoke and few sparks and leaves long-lasting coals, which makes it ideal for overnight loads. Wet oak hisses, smolders and builds creosote, so check it with a moisture meter before you rely on it.

Gear for oak

Plan your wood supply a year or two ahead. A splitter in the 20 to 25 ton range handles most oak rounds up to about 18 in; bigger, knotty white oak needs more.

Splitters and splitting tools

Chainsaws

Stoves, storage and moisture

Size the splitter for your oak with the log splitter tonnage calculator, and see how many cords a winter takes with the firewood cord calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is red oak or white oak better firewood?

Both are excellent. White oak is slightly denser, so it holds a little more heat per cord, but it takes longer to season. Red oak dries a bit faster and usually splits more easily.

How long does oak take to season?

Typically 12 to 24 months after splitting and stacking. Measure a freshly split face with a moisture meter and wait until it reads under about 20%.

Can you burn green oak?

It will burn in a hot fire, but poorly: much of its heat goes into boiling off water, it smokes, and it builds creosote in the chimney. Season it first.

Compare with similar woods

Apple (25.8 million BTU per cord), Beech (24.0 million BTU per cord). Or see all 23 species side by side.