Alder Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Alnus rubra

BTU per Cord

17,500,000

Density

2,540 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

fair

Seasoning Time

6 months

Availability

regional

Lightweight hardwood common in the Pacific Northwest. Burns quickly with moderate heat output. Popular for smoking salmon and other fish. Seasons fast but burns fast too, so best mixed with denser wood.

Pros

  • +Easy to split
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Seasons relatively quickly (6 months)

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -fair coaling quality

Best Uses for Alder

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

Wood Stove

Usable but lower heat

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning Alder

Alder requires approximately 6 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

Boxelder

17,900,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Red Maple

18,600,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Sassafras

18,900,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Cottonwood

15,800,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

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Last updated: December 2024