Beech vs Maple Firewood: Which One Should You Buy?

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The four listings in this guide

Product	Species stated	Weight	Moisture	Kiln dried
Savory Blend 5 Inch	Oaks, maples, black birch, beech, ash (stated)	14 lb (stated)	Less than 10% (stated)	Yes (stated)
Firewood Central Cherry	Cherry (stated)	Approx 38 lb (stated)	15% or less (stated)	Yes (stated)
Wilson Split Firewood	Birch, maple, oak or cherry (stated)	8.7 kg (stated)	Not stated	Yes (stated)
Old Potters Cooking Logs	Hickory (stated)	18 lb (stated)	Not stated	Yes (stated)

The Savory Blend leads because it is the only listing that states both species in the question. The listing states a blend of oaks, maples, black birch, beech and ash, kiln dried, stated to exceed USDA standards, delivered at less than 10 percent moisture content, in 5-inch pieces sized for grills, smokers and pizza ovens. The box is 14 lb with about 1000 cubic inches of wood. One contradiction to note: the spec table describes BBQ pellets with oak, hickory and cherry, while the title and bullets describe a firewood box of oaks, maples, black birch, beech and ash. We go with the title and bullets.

The other three are benchmarks. The Firewood Central cherry is a 38 lb bundle of 14 to 18 sixteen-inch splits, PDA-certified and dried to 15 percent moisture or less, from certified American forests processed in Myerstown, PA. The Wilson is a 16 by 12 by 8 inch box of kiln-dried split firewood, 1 to 3 inches in diameter at 8.7 kg, with maple among its stated species options. Note the spec table’s flavor field lists apple where the title lists birch; we go with the title’s species list. The Old Potters is 16 to 18 hickory logs at 8 by 2.5 inches, 1100 cubic inches, kiln dried and USDA certified, at 18 lb.

How to choose beech vs maple firewood

For beech vs maple firewood, buy the blend that states both. The Savory Blend is the only listing here that does, and it states the lowest moisture figure at less than 10 percent. If you want maple alone, the Wilson listing names maple as a species option, though it states no moisture figure. The cherry and hickory listings give you stated moisture and weight benchmarks: 15 percent or less for the cherry, 18 lb for the hickory box. All four listings state kiln drying, so dryness is not the differentiator; stated species and stated moisture are.

Piece size and what it fits

The listings state very different piece sizes, and size decides the appliance. The Savory Blend states 5-inch pieces that never exceed 5.25 inches, with widths from 0.75 to 1.75 inches, sized for grills, smokers and pizza ovens including Ooni, Solo and Bertello. The Old Potters states 8 by 2.5 inch logs that fit any grill, smoker or fire pit. The Firewood Central states 16-inch splits in 14 to 18 piece bundles. The Wilson states a 16 by 12 by 8 inch box of splits from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Match the piece to the firebox: short pieces for pizza ovens, long splits for open pits.

What the listings state about burn quality

Each listing describes its burn in its own words. The Old Potters states the wood lights easily and burns hot with less smoke and ash than traditional firewood, serving as a natural source of charcoal. The Firewood Central states a hot, steady burn with low smoke, minimal ash and little popping. The Wilson states the kiln dry process creates a hotter burn with less smoke and prevents smoldering. The Savory Blend states high heat and an easy start. All four agree on the same theme: kiln drying is what makes the burn clean.

Certifications and sourcing

The Old Potters states USDA certified quality, inspected for safety and sanitation. The Firewood Central states PDA certification, sourcing from certified American forests and processing in Myerstown, PA. The Wilson states wood sustainably harvested in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The Savory Blend states kiln drying that exceeds USDA standards and plastic-free Kraft packaging sourced within New England. If sourcing matters to you, the Firewood Central and Savory Blend give the most detail.

Weight and volume of each box

The Firewood Central is the biggest load at about 38 lb of 16-inch splits. The Old Potters is 18 lb with 1100 cubic inches of wood in 16 to 18 logs. The Savory Blend is 14 lb with about 1000 cubic inches. The Wilson is 8.7 kg in a 16 by 12 by 8 inch box. For a weekend of grilling, one box of any of these covers it; for a season of heating, the per-pound math favors the larger bundles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which listing contains both beech and maple?

The Savory Blend, which states a mix of oaks, maples, black birch, beech and ash. None of the other three listings states beech.

Which listing offers maple on its own?

The Wilson Split Firewood, which lists maple among its species options of birch, maple, oak or cherry.

Which states the lowest moisture figure?

The Savory Blend at less than 10 percent moisture content. The Firewood Central cherry states 15 percent or less; the Wilson and Old Potters listings state no moisture figure.

Which is the biggest load?

The Firewood Central cherry at about 38 lb of 16-inch splits. The Old Potters is 18 lb, the Savory Blend is 14 lb, and the Wilson is 8.7 kg.

Are all four kiln dried?

Yes. All four listings state kiln drying: the Old Potters, Wilson, Firewood Central and Savory Blend.

Related: ash vs oak firewood, oak vs hickory firewood and red oak vs white oak firewood guides.