Cherry Firewood

Cherry, mostly black cherry, is a medium-density hardwood that people burn as much for its smell as its heat. It is a popular wood for open fireplaces and for cooking.

Cherry firewood at a glance

Heat per cord: 20.4 million BTU
Weight per cord: 2,900 lb (air-dried)
Ease of splitting: ●●●●○ 4 of 5
Seasoning time: 6 to 12 months
Smoke: Low
Sparks: Few
Coals: Good
Scent: Sweet
Type: Hardwood
Common in (US): Northeast, Midwest, Appalachia, South

Also called: Black cherry, Wild cherryHeat 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 cherry

Cherry usually splits easily, with straight grain and few problem knots in clear trunk wood.

Seasoning cherry

Cherry dries fairly quickly, often in 6 to 12 months when split and stacked well.

Burning cherry

Seasoned cherry burns with moderate heat, little smoke, few sparks and a sweet smell. It leaves decent coals but is not an overnight wood on its own.

Gear for cherry

Mix cherry with denser hardwood for main-season heating, and save the best pieces for evenings at an open fireplace.

Splitters and splitting tools

Chainsaws

Stoves, storage and moisture

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cherry good firewood?

Yes. It gives moderate heat, burns cleanly when dry and smells very pleasant.

Is cherry firewood good for a fireplace?

It is one of the nicest for an open fireplace because it throws few sparks and has a sweet smell.

How long does cherry take to season?

Typically 6 to 12 months after splitting and stacking.

Compare with similar woods

Tamarack (20.8 million BTU per cord), Elm (20.0 million BTU per cord). Or see all 23 species side by side.