Best Firewood To Burn In Your Stove Or Fireplace Insert

Choosing the best firewood to burn can feel confusing. With so many options, how do you know which wood will give you the most heat, the longest burn and the cleanest fire?

The truth is, the type of firewood you use makes a major difference in both performance and experience. From heat output to aroma, certain firewood types clearly outperform others. In this guide, you’ll learn what is the best firewood, how hardwood compares to softwood and which options to avoid, so you can stack, store and burn with confidence.

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What is the Best Firewood to Burn?

The best firewood is seasoned hardwood. Hardwoods such as oak, maple and ash are dense, dry slowly and produce steady, long-lasting heat with minimal smoke. Because they contain less sap and resin than softwoods, they also create less creosote buildup in your chimney or flue, keeping your system safer.

When selecting firewood, look for logs with a moisture content below 20%. Well-seasoned wood is darker in color, shows visible cracks at the ends and sounds hollow when struck against another log. These qualities ensure efficient combustion and higher BTU output, giving you the most warmth for your effort. While several types of firewood can be used, the best combine density, dryness and efficiency.

Best Firewood for Wood Stove

The best firewood for wood stoves includes oak, hickory and maple. These species burn hot and long, making them ideal for heating medium to large spaces. Dense hardwoods like these also produce bright, consistent flames while reducing the need for constant reloading.

Choosing good wood for wood-burning stoves not only maximizes heat but also minimizes creosote buildup, keeping your stove efficient and safe.

Read our How to Start a Fire in a Wood Stove blog.

Best Wood for a Fireplace Insert

The best wood for a fireplace insert balances efficiency with ambiance. Hardwoods such as ash, birch and cherry burn cleanly while producing beautiful flames. Cherry is especially popular because it combines solid heat with a subtle aroma, enhancing the atmosphere in living rooms and family spaces.

If your fireplace insert is primarily for ambiance rather than heating your whole home, mixing hardwoods with smaller amounts of softwood kindling can give you an easy start while still producing a pleasant, steady fire.

Hardwood vs. Softwood

The debate of hardwood versus softwood comes down to performance. Hardwoods like oak, hickory and beech are the best wood for burning when you want long-lasting heat. Their density means they burn slowly and release more energy per log, which is why oak is often called the best hardwood to burn.

Softwoods like pine, spruce and fir ignite quickly and are great for kindling, but they burn faster and hotter, requiring more frequent reloading. Because softwoods contain more sap, they also produce more creosote. For this reason, hardwoods are generally the best firewood to burn for everyday heating, while softwoods are better for starting fires.

Learn more in our How to Stack Firewood blog.

Best Firewood to Burn Chart

To make comparisons easier, below is a chart of the best firewood to burn, ranking several common species by heat value, burn duration, aroma and smoke production:

Use this chart to guide your choices. If you want maximum heat for large spaces, go with oak or hickory. If you’re more focused on creating ambiance, cherry or birch may be the better option. Oak consistently delivers long, steady burns with excellent efficiency, while poplar is best avoided since it burns quickly and produces heavy smoke. 

Which Firewood Burns the Hottest?

If you’re wondering what wood burns the hottest, black locust leads the list with some of the highest BTU output—up to 26 million BTUs per cord. Other dense hardwoods like hickory, oak and beech also rank near the top, producing long-lasting, high heat that’s ideal for large spaces.

Hot-burning woods are perfect for heating large areas or keeping your stove going through the night. However, they do require careful stove management. Fires that burn too hot for too long can put stress on your stove and chimney. To keep things safe, always use seasoned hardwood with a moisture content between 18% and 20%—it reduces smoke, minimizes creosote buildup and helps your stove perform at its best. Using a stove thermometer can help you monitor temperatures and maintain safe, efficient burns.

Check out our Wood Storage Ideas blog for tips on keeping firewood ready year-round.

What Wood is Worst for Firewood?

Not all wood is safe or efficient to burn. Avoid softwoods like pine, spruce, or cedar for everyday heating, as they burn quickly, produce more smoke and create excessive creosote buildup. Driftwood and treated or painted lumber are even worse, as they release harmful chemicals when burned.

Using poor quality wood means you’ll need to reload more often, deal with more smoke and clean your chimney more frequently. For the best results, stick to seasoned hardwoods and steer clear of anything that isn’t specifically cut and dried for burning.

Best Smelling Firewood

Some woods are known not just for their heat, but also for their aroma. The best smelling firewood includes cherry, apple and even less common options like yew. Cherry produces a sweet, fruity aroma, while applewood offers a mild, pleasant fragrance. Hickory and yew both create distinctive scents that elevate the atmosphere.

If you’re looking for the best firewood to cook with, apple and hickory are excellent choices. Both provide steady heat and impart wonderful flavor when used in smokers or wood-fired ovens. Whether you’re heating your living room or preparing a meal, these aromatic options enhance the overall experience.

Contact a Dealer to Get the Best Forge & Flame Wood Stove or Fireplace Insert for Your Home

Finding the best firewood to burn is only half the equation—pairing it with the right heating appliance makes all the difference. A well-built stove or fireplace insert will maximize heat, minimize creosote and give you both comfort and confidence.

Forge & Flame wood stoves and fireplace inserts are crafted with premium steel, tested to exceed industry standards and designed to provide both durability and style. Whether you want the freestanding impact of a stove or the traditional look of an insert, our products are made to bring out the very best in your firewood.

Ready to upgrade your home heating experience? Browse Forge & Flame Wood Stoves, Shop Fireplace Inserts, or Find a Dealer Near You today.