Black Walnut Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Juglans nigra

BTU per Cord

22,200,000

Density

3,192 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

good

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

common

Good all-around firewood that is easy to split and burns clean. Moderate to good heat output. Note that the wood is extremely valuable as lumber, so burning it is often considered wasteful. Pleasant mild aroma.

Pros

  • +good coaling for long burns
  • +Easy to split
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Low smoke production
  • +Widely available

Best Uses for Black Walnut

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

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 Black Walnut

Black Walnut 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

Yellow Birch

21,800,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Red Elm

21,600,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Hackberry

20,800,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

White Ash

23,600,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

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Last updated: December 2024