White Ash Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Fraxinus americana

BTU per Cord

23,600,000

Density

3,472 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

excellent

Seasoning Time

6 months

Availability

common

Often considered the ideal firewood. Splits beautifully, seasons relatively quickly, and burns with high heat and excellent coals. Low smoke and spark production. Can even be burned slightly green in an emergency. Increasingly available due to emerald ash borer kills.

Pros

  • +excellent coaling for long burns
  • +Easy to split
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Low smoke production
  • +Seasons relatively quickly (6 months)
  • +Widely available

Best Uses for White Ash

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 White Ash

White Ash requires approximately 6 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

Sugar Maple

24,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Red Oak

24,600,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Black Walnut

22,200,000 BTU/cord · good coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024