The Best Types of Firewood to Use in England: An Expert’s Guide

If you are searching for the best firewood to use in England, you ultimately want dense and well-seasoned hardwoods like ash, oak and beech. When burnt at 20% moisture or less, they provide the highest heat output, the longest burns, and the cleanest, low-smoke fires. Ash is popular for being easy to light and a good all-rounder, whereas oak is favoured for longer burns.

At Black Dog Forestry, we sell carefully sourced firewood from the woodland we manage. This enables us to get an up-close look at how each species performs once seasoned and put on a fire. Using his more than 20 years of experience, Alistair, the owner of Black Dog Forestry has put together this complete guide to the best firewood for your needs. We look at burn times, seasoning and more.

What is the best type of firewood?

Hardwoods are normally the best type of firewood you can use, especially if they have been seasoned and have a moisture content level of 20% or less. Thanks to their higher density than softwoods, hardwoods produce more heat and burn considerably longer. That said, a softwood will light more quickly and can be cheaper. However, being more resinous than hardwoods means you are more likely to see a tar build-up in your flue.

In the UK, the best firewoods include ash, oak, beech and hornbeam. They produce more heat than popular softwoods like pine or cedar, and burn at a slow, steady rate, creating much less smoke and soot. Ash is perhaps the most popular; it has relatively low water content, seasons quickly and lights easily.

Best firewoods at a glance

We’ve pulled together a selection of the top-performing firewood you can choose from. Further down the page, we expand on this by comparing a wider range of wood types that could all be used for fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas and more.

Wood	Type	Heat output	Burn time	Best for
Ash	Hardwood	High	Long	All-round use
Oak	Hardwood	High	Very long	Overnight burns and sustained heat
Beech	Hardwood	High	Long	A clean, steady burn in a stove
Hornbeam	Hardwood	High	Long	Dense, long-lasting heat
Birch	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	Easy lighting, bright, lively flame
Cherry	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	Nice aroma on an open fire

The best firewood to burn: A full comparison (UK species)

In the chart above, we covered some of the most popular woods used in the UK. Below, we dive into a little more detail and put those woods alongside many others often found for sale. Covering burn time, seasoning, heat output and more, we give each an overall rating so you can make an informed decision when you come to buy your firewood logs.

Wood	Type	Heat output	Burn time	Typical seasoning time	Spit/smoke	Rating
Ash	Hardwood	High	Long	12-18 months	Low	Excellent
Oak	Hardwood	High	Very long	18-24 months	Low	Excellent
Beech	Hardwood	High	Long	12-18 months	Low	Excellent
Hornbeam	Hardwood	High	Long	12-24 months	Low	Excellent
Hawthorn	Hardwood	High	Long	12-18 months	Low	Good-Excellent
Apple	Hardwood	Medium-High	Medium	12 months	Low	Good
Cherry	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	12 months	Low	Good
Birch	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	6-12 months	Moderate	Good
Sycamore	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	12 months	Low	Good
Rowan	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	12 months	Low	Good
Holly	Hardwood	Medium	Medium	6-12 months	Low	Good
Elm	Hardwood	Medium	Long	18-24 months	Low	Fair-Good
Alder	Hardwood	Low	Short	6-12 months	Low	Fair
Lime	Hardwood	Low	Short	12 months	Low	Poor
Sweet Chestnut	Hardwood	Low	Short	12 months	High	Poor-Fair
Horse Chestnut	Hardwood	Low	Short	12 months	High	Poor
Willow	Hardwood	Low	Short	12-18 months	Low	Poor
Poplar	Hardwood	Low	Short	12 months	High (black smoke)	Poor
Cedar	Softwood	Low	Short-Medium	6-12 months	Low	Fair
Larch	Softwood	Low-Medium	Short	9-12 months	High	Poor
Pine	Softwood	Low-Medium	Short	6-12 months	High	Poor
Spruce	Softwood	Low	Short	6-12 months	Moderate	Poor
Douglas Fir	Softwood	Low	Short	9-12 months	Moderate	Poor

 Please note, seasoning times are approximate and will vary depending on log size, climate, how the wood is stored and whether the wood is split. The information in our table is a general guide, not a rule, so always check with a moisture meter before burning.

Hardwood v softwood: What is the better firewood?

As a general rule, hardwood is often the better choice, especially when heating your home. Here’s why:

·         Hardwoods are denser: Oak, ash and beech, for example, have more wood fibre, and as a result, have more stored energy. This makes them burn slowly, at hotter temperatures and for longer.

·         Softwoods burn faster: Softwoods like pine, cedar and spruce will light fast, but they burn out quickly, meaning you’ll need more frequent trips to your log store.

·         Softwoods can be more dangerous: Softwoods have a higher sap content, and this can make them spit when they burn. You can also find significant tar and soot deposits in your flue that could lead to a chimney fire.

Softwood isn’t always a bad option. Because it lights quickly, it is excellent for kindling to help get your fire started before you add the hardwood.

The best hardwood species for fires

Earlier on, we listed all the hardwoods and softwoods and compared their various qualities. Let’s explore the best hardwoods for fires in a little more detail.

Oak

Oak is a dense hardwood and one of the most popular hardwoods in the UK. The slow and steady burn is a huge advantage, and just one of the reasons it is favoured. Its density makes it take longer to season (as long as 24 months in some cases), but once dry, it produces a long-lasting heat and a low flame. This makes it ideal for overnight burning in a closed stove.

Ash

Ash is seen as the all-rounder. It has a relatively low green moisture content than many hardwoods, so it seasons quickly and is relatively easy to light. Seasoned ash burns clean and steady, with very few sparks and little smell. High heat, easy lighting and low fuss are just some of the reasons people choose ash for stoves and open fires.

Beech

Beech is another popular firewood. It burns with a steady flame and clean heat. It requires more thorough seasoning than other hardwoods, as it has a naturally high water content. Without this seasoning, a damp beech wood will not perform anywhere near as well as it could.

Birch

Birch is popular as it lights easily. However, it burns faster than many other hardwoods, so it often needs to be mixed with a slower-burning wood like oak or hornbeam. It seasons quickly, too, often ready in 6 to 12 months, making it useful as an early-season log option.

Hornbeam

Hornbeam often goes under the radar. It’s a very dense hardwood that gives excellent heat and a long, slow burn similar to oak. It needs to be seasoned well to dry out fully, but once it is, you can benefit from sustained warmth when the weather gets cold.

Which firewood is best for your fire?

The best firewood isn’t always the same for each fire. To get the best results, you need to match the wood to your fire.

Wood-burning stoves

Modern stoves, notably the DEFRA-exempt and Ecodesign models, are designed to burn fuel at very high temperatures, maximising the heat potential, and keeping emissions minimal.  Ash and beech are great options for a clean burn with very little sap, something especially handy if you don’t fancy cleaning the stove glass or flue too often. Oak is also popular in these stoves, particularly if you need a long overnight burn.

Always look for logs with the Ready to Burn logo. This indicates the logs have a moisture level of 20% or below, and will be much friendlier to your appliance and chimney.

Open fireplaces

Open fires can often be a safety risk, as there is no glass door for protection and an unlimited supply of air. Therefore, putting safety ahead of efficiency is perhaps best. The risk of the fire spitting and landing sparks on the floor is something not to be ignored. Therefore, consider ash, beech, cherry or apple. They burn calmly and are very low-spitting. With apple and cherry, you can also benefit from the aroma they release. Just steer clear of most softwoods as they can spit excessively.

Fire pits, chimineas and pizza ovens

During the summer months, you might use these items more than normal. For cooking, stick to well-seasoned hardwoods. For quick lighting and atmosphere, some softwoods come into their own. Pine and larch can both be great options.

Just avoid any treated or painted woods, as the fumes released on burning could be harmful.

Does seasoning matter?

You have probably seen us mention seasoning a great deal. It is hugely important. Burning damp logs wastes more heat, produces more smoke and builds up creosote in your flue. Seasoned wood reduces this.

What does seasoning mean?

With all this mention of seasoning, we should explain what it means. Seasoning is simply drying the freshly cut wood until it is ready to burn. Newly felled logs, or “green” logs, can hold a lot of water, so drying them out allows them to burn much better.

By splitting the logs, stacking them with good airflow and giving them enough time, the water evaporates, leaving you with a log that can burn much cleaner, brighter and longer.

In England, firewood sold in volumes of less than 2m³ must be certified as Ready to Burn. This means that it holds a moisture content of 20% or less. Woodsure which, administers the scheme on behalf of Defra, has created a handy resource to explain its importance in more detail.

Drying wood isn’t quick. Forest Research, the Forestry Commission’s research agency, explains that dense hardwood logs normally need around two years of seasoning before they reach the appropriate moisture content levels when air-dried. Kiln-drying is a quicker option, and is something we explore in our seasoned vs kiln-dried firewood guide. We also cover how you can store your firewood safely, so once you have yours, you can keep it in its best condition.

Ready to order seasoned hardwood from Black Dog Forestry?

Now you’ve seen the advantages and disadvantages of a host of wood species, you might still be a little unsure what could be best for you. Don’t worry, at Black Dog Forestry, our mixed firewood log bundles combine a selection of specially selected hardwoods, cut to a useful 9-inch length (or smaller if required). It’s the easiest way to get a fire lighting well and burning long. Contact our team today to order yours or ask any questions you may have.

The best types of firewood FAQs

Is ash or oak better firewood?

Both are excellent choices. Oak will burn longer and is best for a sustained heat, but it can be a little harder to light and needs longer to season. Ash lights more easily and seasons more quickly. It’s often seen as the better everyday all-rounder, but most people choose a mix of the two.

Can you burn softwood?

Yes, but it is perhaps better as kindling. It lights quickly, but burns fast and will deposit more tar in your flue.

What firewood burns the longest and hottest?

Oak. Its high density means it releases heat slowly and steadily. Hornbeam and beech have similar properties and are good options to consider.

What firewood is best for a wood burner or indoor fireplace?

Dense, well-seasoned hardwood, below 20% moisture. Think ash, oak, beech or hornbeam. They burn cleanly and protect your stove and flue. Avoid resinous softwood indoors as they spit and increase the soot build-up.

What are the best trees to grow for firewood in the UK?

The best firewood trees are native hardwoods such as oak, ash, beech and hornbeam. They take considerable time to grow to a usable size. Oak, for example, can take decades before it is suitable. This is why many people buy ready-seasoned logs rather than growing their own.