Eastern red cedar Firewood

Eastern red cedar is actually a juniper. It is light, aromatic and rot-resistant, and spreads quickly through Plains and southern pastures, so a lot of it is cleared each year.

Eastern red cedar firewood at a glance

Heat per cord: 18.2 million BTU
Weight per cord: 2,600 lb (air-dried)
Ease of splitting: ●●●●● 5 of 5
Seasoning time: 6 months
Smoke: Moderate
Sparks: Many
Coals: Poor
Scent: Strong, aromatic
Type: Softwood
Common in (US): South, Plains, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic

Also called: Red cedar, JuniperHeat 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 eastern red cedar

Cedar splits very easily, which makes it perfect for making kindling.

Seasoning eastern red cedar

Cedar dries quickly, often in about 6 months.

Burning eastern red cedar

Dry cedar lights instantly and burns fast and hot with a strong, pleasant smell, but it pops and throws many sparks and leaves few coals.

Gear for eastern red cedar

Use cedar for kindling and fire starting in a closed stove. In an open fireplace, keep a screen in place.

Splitters and splitting tools

Chainsaws

Stoves, storage and moisture

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cedar good firewood?

It is excellent kindling but poor overnight heat: it burns fast and leaves few coals.

Is it safe to burn cedar?

Dry cedar is safe to burn in a stove or fireplace. Its sparks are the main issue in open fireplaces.

Does cedar make good kindling?

Yes. It splits into thin pieces easily and lights quickly.

Compare with similar woods

Sycamore (19.5 million BTU per cord), Pine (16.0 million BTU per cord). Or see all 23 species side by side.