Sugar Maple Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Acer saccharum

BTU per Cord

24,000,000

Density

3,680 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

medium

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

excellent

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

common

Premier firewood in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Burns hot and steady with excellent coals. Splits well when straight-grained, though crotch pieces can be tough. Widely available and highly regarded. Sweet, mild aroma when burning.

Pros

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

Best Uses for Sugar Maple

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

Wood Stove

Excellent — high heat output

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Popular choice for smoking meats

Seasoning Sugar Maple

Sugar Maple 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

American Beech

24,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

White Ash

23,600,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Red Oak

24,600,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

White Oak

25,700,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

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Last updated: December 2024