The Firewood Directory

Maple Firewood

Species deep-dive · 4 min read

Split maple firewood with characteristic pale heartwood, neatly stacked under a cover
Sugar maple — clean-burning, easy to split

Sugar maple produces around 24 million BTU per cord — comparable to red oak — with cleaner smoke and easier splitting. It's one of the most widely available hardwoods across the Northeast and Midwest and a default choice for indoor wood stoves where smoke matters.

Sugar maple vs soft maple

VarietyMillion BTU/cordSplittingNotes
Sugar maple (hard)~24MediumThe premium variety
Red maple (soft)~20EasyMost common
Silver maple (soft)~19EasyLowest BTU
Black maple~23MediumSimilar to sugar maple

What you'll pay

Maple typically prices in the $300-$450 per full cord range delivered. Pricing varies sharply by variety — many suppliers sell "mixed hardwood" that's mostly soft maple, which should be priced below pure sugar maple. Ask before buying if you care about BTU.

Common questions

Is maple good firewood?

Yes — sugar maple in particular is excellent firewood, around 24 million BTU per cord, similar to red oak. It burns clean with minimal smoke, splits easily, and is widely available east of the Mississippi and across the Northeast.

How much does maple firewood cost?

Maple typically costs $300-$450 per full cord delivered, slightly less than oak in most regions and comparable to other mid-tier hardwoods. Prices spike late fall as heating-season demand peaks.

What's the difference between sugar maple and soft maple firewood?

Sugar maple (hard maple) is denser and produces ~24 million BTU/cord. Soft maple varieties (red, silver) are noticeably lighter, around 19-20 million BTU/cord — fine for shoulder-season fires but less heat per stick.

How long does maple take to season?

Sugar maple needs 10-18 months of air drying; soft maples season faster (6-12 months) because they're less dense. Stack off the ground with airflow on all sides to speed it up.

Does maple firewood smell good?

Maple has a pleasant, mild, slightly sweet aroma when burning — less pungent than cherry or apple but more refined than oak. It's a popular choice for living-room fires where the smell matters.

Find maple firewood nearby

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