Ash Firewood
Ash has long been called one of the best all-round firewoods: good heat, easy splitting and quick drying. The spread of the emerald ash borer has killed huge numbers of ash trees, which means a lot of standing dead ash is now being cut for firewood.
- Heat per cord
- 23.6 million BTU
- Weight per cord
- 3,450 lb (air-dried)
- Ease of splitting
- ●●●●● 5 of 5
- Seasoning time
- 6 to 12 months
- Smoke
- Low
- Sparks
- Few
- Coals
- Good
- Scent
- Faint
- Type
- Hardwood
- Common in (US)
- Northeast, Midwest, Great Lakes, South
Splitting ash
Ash is the easy one. Its straight grain splits cleanly with a maul or a small splitter, which makes it a good wood for beginners and people splitting by hand.
Seasoning ash
Ash starts with relatively low moisture for a hardwood and dries quickly, often in 6 to 12 months once split. Standing dead ash may already be close to dry, but check it with a meter rather than assuming.
Burning ash
Dry ash burns with a steady flame, little smoke and good coals. Its heat per cord is a step below oak and hickory but very respectable.
Gear for ash
Do not move ash firewood long distances: emerald ash borer travels in firewood. Buy and burn it locally, and check your state’s firewood movement rules.
Splitters and splitting tools
- Best Electric Log Splitter Under $500: 5 Splitters for Home Firewood
- Best Splitting Maul: 5 Mauls for Splitting Firewood by Hand
- Best Log Splitter for Home Use: 4 Splitters for a Cord or Two
Chainsaws
- Best Chainsaw for Firewood: 5 Gas Saws for Cutting Cords
- Best Chainsaw Under $300: 5 Gas Saws for Firewood and Cleanup
Stoves, storage and moisture
- Best Wood Stove for Heating a House: 5 Freestanding Stoves Compared
- Best Firewood Moisture Meter: 5 Pin Meters for Seasoned Wood
- Best Firewood Rack with Cover: 5 Outdoor Racks Compared
Size the splitter for your ash with the log splitter tonnage calculator, and see how many cords a winter takes with the firewood cord calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you burn ash firewood green?
Ash burns better green than most hardwoods, which is where its reputation comes from, but it still burns cleaner and hotter after seasoning. Aim for under 20% moisture.
Is ash killed by emerald ash borer safe to burn?
Yes. The wood burns the same. The concern is moving it: infested firewood spreads the beetle, so burn it close to where it was cut.
How long does ash take to season?
Usually 6 to 12 months after splitting and stacking, often less for standing dead trees.
Compare with similar woods
Beech (24.0 million BTU per cord), Black walnut (22.2 million BTU per cord). Or see all 23 species side by side.