Firewood Calculator

Our Firewood Calculator estimates the cords of wood you’ll need to heat your home during the 2026 heating season, saving you money and ensuring a consistent fuel supply. This tool helps prevent over-ordering, which can lead to wasted space and potential spoilage, or under-ordering, which could leave you cold and scrambling for expensive last-minute deliveries. Understanding your exact needs is crucial for efficient energy management and budgeting, especially with projected firewood costs averaging $350-$500 per cord in 2026, depending on wood type and region.

This calculator uses a BTU-based methodology, where your home's total heating load (BTUs per hour) is estimated based on square footage, insulation quality (poor, average, good), and regional heating degree days (HDD) for 2026 projections. This load is then divided by the average BTU content per cord of seasoned hardwood (approximately 20-24 million BTUs/cord, adjusted for fireplace/wood stove efficiency, typically 60-80%). The formula considers the number of heating days in your region and a typical desired indoor temperature.

Remember that these are estimates; individual heating habits and specific wood stove efficiency can significantly impact actual consumption. A common mistake is assuming all firewood is equal; always opt for seasoned hardwood for optimal BTU output and cleaner burning, and avoid green wood which burns inefficiently and can cause creosote buildup. Also, consider that the insulation quality you select should be honest; an overly optimistic assessment will lead to under-ordering.