Firewood by species / Hardwood
Extension tables · checked 2026-10-20
Gambel oak firewood
A cord of gambel oak holds about 30.7 million Btu of heat, according to the Utah State University Extension table (air-dried wood). That ranks it #1 of 52 species on this site, 53% more than the 20 million Btu the U.S. Energy Information Administration uses for a generic cord of wood.
- 1Heat per cord 30.7 million Btu
- 2Rank of 52 #1
- 3Heating-oil equal 222 gal
- 4Splitting Not rated
How much heat is in a cord of gambel oak?
Only the Utah State University table lists gambel oak, so its 30.7 million Btu is the one figure used here. It sits 10 million Btu above the median species (20.75), and it is #1 of the 38 hardwoods listed, whose average is 22.1 million Btu.
Gambel oak tops the table, so every other species takes more than a cord to match one cord of it: you would need 2.2 cords of buckeye (horsechestnut) to get the same heat. In energy terms one cord equals the heat content of about 222 gallons of heating oil, using EIA's 138,500 Btu per gallon; the stove and the oil burner each lose some of that before it reaches the room.
Cords of gambel oak for a winter
For the example house used across this site (2,000 sq ft, built in the 1970s, wood as the only heat, a 74% efficient stove), a normal winter takes:
| State | Degree days | Gambel oak | Generic cord (20 M Btu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota (coldest) | 9,184 | 4.5 cords | 6.9 cords |
| Oregon (median) | 5,269 | 2.6 cords | 3.9 cords |
| Florida (mildest) | 646 | 0.3 cords | 0.5 cords |
Because gambel oak beats the generic cord, the stack is 35% smaller than the same winter on average wood. Your own house will differ; the calculator takes your state, floor area, house age and price.
Weight, splitting and how it burns
Whatever the species, the heat figures assume dry wood. Seasoned firewood is below 20% moisture; fresh-cut wood is 35 to 50% water by weight (CMHC), and burning it wastes heat boiling that water off. The seasoning guide and the moisture meter guide explain how to get there and check it.
What a cord of gambel oak is worth
Maine's Governor's Energy Office surveyed dealers at $355 a cord on September 21, 2026 (seasoned wood, minimum 2-cord purchase, local delivery included). Paid for as gambel oak, that is $11.56 per million Btu in the wood, or $15.63 per million Btu delivered by a 74% stove. Dense species like this give the most heat for the money when dealers charge one price per cord regardless of species. Only two states publish a dated cord price; see Maine and New Hampshire.
Similar species
- Osage-orange: 30.5 million Btu per cord (#2)
- Hickory: 29.3 million Btu per cord (#3)
- Black locust: 28.3 million Btu per cord (#4)
- White oak: 27.9 million Btu per cord (#5)
Compare every species on the firewood BTU chart, or see what a cord, face cord and rick hold before you buy.
Sources: Utah State University Extension Forestry, Wood Heating (Kuhns and Schmidt), Table 1 Firewood Facts (row "Oak, Gambel"). Last checked 2026-10-20. Price: Maine Governor's Energy Office, 2025-2026 Heating Season Weekly Fuel Prices (September 21, 2026). Method: methodology.