Hackberry Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Celtis occidentalis

BTU per Cord

20,800,000

Density

3,048 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

good

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

common

Underrated firewood that burns clean with moderate heat. Easy to split and handle. Similar burning characteristics to elm but much easier to work with. Widely available in the Midwest. Good general-purpose firewood.

Pros

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

Best Uses for Hackberry

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 Hackberry

Hackberry 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

Black Cherry

20,400,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Paper Birch

20,300,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

American Elm

20,000,000 BTU/cord · fair coaling

Red Elm

21,600,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024