Firewood by species / Softwood
Extension tables · checked 2026-10-20
Pinyon firewood
A cord of pinyon holds about 27.1 million Btu of heat, according to the Utah State University Extension table (air-dried wood). That ranks it #6 of 52 species on this site, 36% more than the 20 million Btu the U.S. Energy Information Administration uses for a generic cord of wood.
- 1Heat per cord 27.1 million Btu
- 2Rank of 52 #6
- 3Dry weight 3,000 lb/cord
- 4Splitting Easy
How much heat is in a cord of pinyon?
Only the Utah State University table lists pinyon, so its 27.1 million Btu is the one figure used here. It sits 6.4 million Btu above the median species (20.75), and it is #1 of the 14 softwoods listed, whose average is 18.9 million Btu.
One cord of gambel oak, the highest in the table, holds as much heat as 1.13 cords of pinyon. In the other direction, a cord of pinyon replaces 1.96 cords of buckeye (horsechestnut), the lowest. In energy terms one cord equals the heat content of about 196 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 pinyon 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 | Pinyon | Generic cord (20 M Btu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota (coldest) | 9,184 | 5.1 cords | 6.9 cords |
| Oregon (median) | 5,269 | 2.9 cords | 3.9 cords |
| Florida (mildest) | 646 | 0.4 cords | 0.5 cords |
Because pinyon beats the generic cord, the stack is 26% 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
- Weight: Utah State lists 3,000 lb air-dried. That is 23.4 lb per cubic foot of stacked cord, and roughly 1,500 lb for the half cord a full-size pickup bed holds.
- Splitting: easy (Utah State).
- Burning: many sparks. A species that throws many sparks is best kept to a closed stove rather than an open fireplace.
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 pinyon 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 pinyon, that is $13.10 per million Btu in the wood, or $17.70 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
- Apple: 27 million Btu per cord (#7)
- White oak: 27.9 million Btu per cord (#5)
- Beech: 26.3 million Btu per cord (#8)
- Bur oak: 26.3 million Btu per cord (#9)
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 "Pinyon"). Last checked 2026-10-20. Price: Maine Governor's Energy Office, 2025-2026 Heating Season Weekly Fuel Prices (September 21, 2026). Method: methodology.