American Elm Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Ulmus americana

BTU per Cord

20,000,000

Density

2,900 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

hard

Spark Rating

medium

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

fair

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

common

Notoriously difficult to split due to its stringy, interlocking grain. Produces moderate heat and fair coals. Often available from trees killed by Dutch elm disease. Requires a hydraulic splitter for most people.

Pros

  • +Widely available

Cons

  • -fair coaling quality
  • -Difficult to split

Best Uses for American Elm

Open Fireplace

Acceptable — use a screen

Wood Stove

Good choice

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning American Elm

American Elm requires approximately 12 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

Paper Birch

20,300,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Black Cherry

20,400,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Sycamore

19,500,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Hackberry

20,800,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

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Last updated: December 2024