Apple vs Cherry Firewood: Which One Should You Buy?

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Apple vs cherry firewood: the short answer

Cherry wins on availability. Every bagged firewood listing in this guide is cherry: kiln-dried and sold by the box or bundle, as split logs or cooking chunks. Apple firewood is harder to find in the same form, so most buyers comparing the two end up burning cherry. As firewood, both are fruitwoods with a sweet aroma; cherry’s listings claim a bright flame and mild aroma, and apple’s reputation is for a similar sweet burn in smokers and fireplaces.

Cherry firewood: what the listings show

The cherry listings agree on the basics: kiln-dried, single-species cherry. The log listings are cut for fireplaces, fire pits and stoves, while the chunks are sized for grills, smokers and pizza ovens. The Old Potters box holds 1.5 cubic feet of 16-inch logs at about 45 lb, USDA certified kiln-dried to below 20% moisture. The Smoak Firewood 12-inch box runs 36 to 41 lbs with 3 to 4 inch widths and includes kindling and a firestarter. Firewood Central sells 16-inch splits at about 38 lb per bundle, 14 to 18 splits, PDA-certified to 15% moisture or less. The Old Potters and Firewood Central listings describe a sweet aroma, and all three log listings describe a clean burn.

Kiln-dried is the key word on all four listings: the Old Potters and both Smoak listings are USDA certified kiln-dried, and Firewood Central is PDA-certified. Kiln drying takes the guesswork out of seasoning; the wood arrives ready to burn, which matters when you are buying by the box instead of the cord. The tradeoff is volume: a 1.5 cubic foot box or a 38 lb bundle is a weekend of fires, not a winter.

Apple firewood: what to know

Apple is the other classic fruitwood for the fire, prized for smoking, but none of the four listings here is apple: the bagged, kiln-dried market in this guide is all cherry. If you burn apple, treat it like any fruitwood: dry it well, split it to stove length, and expect the sweet aroma both woods are known for. Do not pay a premium for the name alone; dry cherry from a good listing beats damp apple every time.

Buying and storing boxed firewood

Match the split length to your firebox before you order: the 16-inch logs suit full-size stoves and fireplaces, while the 12-inch Smoak box fits smaller stoves and the 8 to 10 lb chunks are for cookers. The Old Potters listing says to store the box off the ground in a dry, ventilated spot, which is good advice for any firewood. Keep a box indoors near the stove for the evening’s fires and the rest under cover outside.

Cherry firewood boxes, ranked

The four cherry listings below are ranked by how completely they specify the wood: species, certification, moisture, cut length and weight. All four are cherry; no apple option is listed. Compare them on the specs, not the adjectives: the numbers tell you what you are actually getting.

Old Potters. The most complete firewood listing: 16-inch cherry logs, 1.5 cubic feet, about 45 lb, USDA certified kiln-dried to below 20% moisture. The listing promises a bright flame and a sweet, mild aroma, and the logs are cut for fireplaces, fire pits and stoves with no splitting or seasoning needed.

Smoak Firewood 12-inch. The starter-friendly pick: 36 to 41 lbs of cherry in 12-inch lengths, 3 to 4 inches wide, with kindling and a firestarter in the box. USDA certified kiln-dried, and the listing notes shorter 8-inch splits and 16-inch lengths in the same storefront.

Firewood Central. The cook’s pick: 16-inch cherry splits at about 38 lb per bundle, 14 to 18 splits, PDA-certified to 15% moisture or less. The listing leans into the sweet, fruity smoke for pizza ovens, grills and smokers.

Smoak Firewood chunks. For the grill, not the fireplace: 8 to 10 lbs of 3-inch cherry chunks, 729 cubic inches, USDA certified kiln-dried. They are sized for smokers, pizza ovens and kamado-style cookers rather than heating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which burns hotter, apple or cherry?

No listing here compares their heat output. Both are fruitwoods sold for the same uses, and the listings emphasize aroma and clean burning over heat figures. Choose dry wood over species debates; moisture matters more than the name on the box.

Is cherry firewood good for smoking meat?

The listings say yes. Firewood Central names pork, poultry, fish and veggies with a sweet, fruity smoke, and the Smoak chunks are sold for smokers and grills. Use cherry chunks or splits sized for your cooker.

What moisture should firewood be?

The listings cite below 20% moisture on the Old Potters box and 15% or less on the Firewood Central bundle. Under 20 percent is the standard target; a meter reading on a fresh split face is the check. See the how long to season firewood guide for drying times.

Can I burn cherry in a wood stove?

The Old Potters listing names indoor fireplaces and wood stoves among its uses, cut to 16 inches. Match the split length to your firebox and burn it dry.

Where can I buy apple firewood?

Not in these listings: all four are cherry. Look for apple as smoking chunks or from local cutters, and apply the same rules: dry, split to length, and a sweet aroma.

Related guides

Compare heat values in the firewood BTU chart, read the best firewood to burn guide, and see cherry vs oak firewood for another species matchup.