Heating with firewood
Updated August 2026 · national average, seasoned hardwood delivered ($150–$500/cord by region)
Quick answer: firewood delivers heat at $19.48 per million BTU (70% efficient modern EPA wood stove (open fireplaces can be 10% or worse)) — #4 cheapest of 7 common options. A 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate runs about $1,753/season.
The oldest fuel is still one of the cheapest per BTU — if you have a modern stove and a good local supplier. An open fireplace, though, sends most of the heat up the chimney.
Pros
- • Cheapest heat in many rural areas — free if you cut your own
- • Heats with no electricity at all
- • Seasoned hardwood ≈ 22 million BTU per cord
Cons
- • Constant hauling, stacking, loading and ash
- • Quality varies hugely (species, seasoning, honest cord measure)
- • Open fireplaces lose most heat up the flue
Season cost by home size & climate
| Home size | Mild | Moderate | Cold | Very cold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $292 | $584 | $877 | $1,169 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $438 | $877 | $1,315 | $1,753 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $584 | $1,169 | $1,753 | $2,338 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $731 | $1,461 | $2,192 | $2,922 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $877 | $1,753 | $2,630 | $3,506 |
Compare against everything else
Estimated heating load: 81 million BTU/season — a rough figure; insulation and thermostat habits move it a lot.
Season cost by fuel (edit any price — it's your local number that matters)
≈ 7,913 kWhs · season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)
≈ 900 therms · 90% AFUE furnace (standard 80%, condensing up to 97%)
≈ 6.1 tons · 80% efficient pellet stove (75–85% typical)
≈ 5.3 cords · 70% efficient modern EPA wood stove (open fireplaces can be 10% or worse)
≈ 688 gallons · 85% AFUE oil furnace/boiler (older units 80%, new 87%+)
≈ 984 gallons · 90% AFUE propane furnace (condensing up to 97%)
≈ 23,740 kWhs · baseboards, electric furnace or space heaters — 100% efficient at the unit, but every BTU is made from scratch
Estimates: national-average prices (sources on each fuel page) and typical system efficiencies. Your utility bill has your real per-unit price — plug it in above for a number you can act on.
FAQ
How much does it cost to heat a home with firewood?+
At the current average price ($300/cord) and a typical system (70% efficient modern EPA wood stove (open fireplaces can be 10% or worse)), firewood delivers heat at $19.48 per million BTU — roughly $1,753 per season for a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate, less in milder ones.
Is firewood cheap compared to other heating fuels?+
It ranks #4 of 7 common heating options by cost per delivered BTU at national-average prices. The oldest fuel is still one of the cheapest per BTU — if you have a modern stove and a good local supplier. An open fireplace, though, sends most of the heat up the chimney.
What are the downsides of heating with firewood?+
Constant hauling, stacking, loading and ash. Quality varies hugely (species, seasoning, honest cord measure). Open fireplaces lose most heat up the flue.