Cottonwood Firewood

Cottonwood is one of the lightest common hardwoods. It is everywhere along rivers on the Plains and in the West, which is why people burn it, but it gives low heat per cord and has a strong smell when wet.

Cottonwood firewood at a glance

Heat per cord: 15.8 million BTU
Weight per cord: 2,100 lb (air-dried)
Ease of splitting: ●●○○○ 2 of 5
Seasoning time: 12 to 18 months
Smoke: Moderate
Sparks: Few
Coals: Poor
Scent: Unpleasant when green
Type: Hardwood
Common in (US): Plains, Midwest, West, Southwest

Also called: Eastern cottonwood, Black cottonwoodHeat 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 cottonwood

Cottonwood is stringy and can be hard to split, especially when wet. It splits more easily frozen or once dry.

Seasoning cottonwood

Cottonwood starts with very high moisture and takes 12 to 18 months to dry properly after splitting.

Burning cottonwood

Dry cottonwood burns quickly with little heat and few coals. Green cottonwood smells unpleasant and smokes heavily.

Gear for cottonwood

Treat cottonwood as shoulder-season wood. Mix it with denser wood for cold nights.

Splitters and splitting tools

Chainsaws

Stoves, storage and moisture

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cottonwood good firewood?

It is low-grade firewood: low heat per cord and few coals. It is fine for mild weather when fully dry.

Why does cottonwood smell?

Wet cottonwood has an unpleasant smell when cut or burned. Fully seasoned cottonwood smells much less.

How long does cottonwood take to season?

About 12 to 18 months after splitting.

Compare with similar woods

Spruce (15.9 million BTU per cord), Poplar and aspen (14.7 million BTU per cord). Or see all 23 species side by side.