Doug fir firewood: more heat for your money
Real heat numbers from university and Forest Service sources, and what our Doug fir costs picked up or delivered.
Douglas fir is the firewood we sell, and it is the best heat-for-the-money wood we can deliver along I-25. Here are the numbers, with sources.
Heat: Doug fir against the other woods on the Front Range
| Wood (air-dried) | Million BTU per cord | Pounds per cord | Splits | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas fir | 20.7 | 2,970 | Easy | Good |
| Ponderosa pine | 16.2 | 2,336 | Easy | Fair |
| Aspen | 18.2 | 2,160 | Easy | Not rated |
| Spruce | 15.5 | 2,240 | Easy | Fair |
| Red oak | 24.6 | 3,528 | Medium | Excellent |
| Pinon pine | 27.1 | 3,000 | Easy | Not rated |
Source: Utah State University Extension, Wood Heating, Table 1 “Firewood Facts”. The USDA Forest Service Rio Grande National Forest fuelwood sheet lists Douglas fir at about 9,200 BTU per pound, 2,620 to 3,140 pounds per cord at 12% moisture (PDF).
What that means for your stove
- About 28% more heat than ponderosa pine per cord (20.7 vs. 16.2), and more than aspen or spruce.
- Easy to split, few sparks, and a Good overall rating from USU.
- It is a softwood. It burns faster than oak, so expect to add wood more often. Oak and pinon give more heat per cord, but cost far more.
- Burn it dry. USU rates Doug fir smoke as high, which is one more reason to burn seasoned wood. Wet wood of any kind makes more smoke and creosote.
Heat per dollar
Cost per million BTU (lower is better) = delivered price per cord ÷ heat per cord. Heat per cord is air-dried wood from the Utah State University Extension firewood table (Douglas fir 20.7, ponderosa pine 16.2, aspen 18.2, red oak 24.6, pinon 27.1 million BTU). Doug fir uses our Zone B delivered price; the other species use the estimated mid-market delivered prices on our species page. Real results vary with moisture and your stove.
What we sell
Split Douglas fir, seasoned, sold loose in 4 x 4 x 4 ft totes (each about one-third of a stacked cord). Sourced from the Evergreen, Colorado area.
| Amount (Doug fir, loose in totes) | Pickup, Erie | Delivered Zone A (0-5 mi) | Delivered Zone B (5-15 mi) | Delivered Zone C (15-25 mi) | Delivered Zone D (25-35 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half tote (about 1/6 cord) | $70 | 1 tote min. | 1 tote min. | 1 tote min. | 1 tote min. |
| 1 tote (about 1/3 cord) | $125 | $145 | $165 | $190 | $210 |
| 2 totes (about 2/3 cord) | $230 | $250 | $270 | $295 | $315 |
| 3 totes (about 1 cord) | $330 | $350 | $370 | $395 | $415 |
| 4 totes (about 1 1/3 cords) | $440 | $460 | $480 | $505 | $525 |
| 6 totes (about 2 cords) | $660 | $680 | $700 | $725 | $745 |
Call or text (720) 346-7238 Full prices