Shagbark Hickory Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Carya ovata

BTU per Cord

27,700,000

Density

4,008 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

hard

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

excellent

Seasoning Time

18 months

Availability

common

Among the best firewoods available. Burns extremely hot with superb, long-lasting coals. Difficult to split by hand due to stringy, tough grain. Produces a classic smoky aroma valued for cooking and smoking meat. Worth every bit of effort to process.

Pros

  • +High heat output
  • +excellent coaling for long burns
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Low smoke production
  • +Widely available

Cons

  • -Difficult to split
  • -Long seasoning time (18 months)

Best Uses for Shagbark Hickory

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

Wood Stove

Excellent — high heat output

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning Shagbark Hickory

Shagbark Hickory requires approximately 18 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 Locust

27,900,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Mesquite

28,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Honey Locust

26,700,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Apple

26,500,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024