White Cedar Firewood

White Cedar, also called Northern White Cedar or Arborvitae, is the one species on this list that actually earns a "poor" overall rating. And yeah, there's a reason for that.

At just 11.6 million BTU per cord and only 1,870 lbs dry, this is about as low as firewood goes. You'd need to burn nearly three cords of White Cedar to match what two cords of red oak would give you. Check the firewood cost comparison and you'll see why that math doesn't work out.

The only real upside for handling? It splits like butter. Practically falls apart on the chopping block. But it's a spark thrower, so never burn it in an open fireplace without a screen. The smoke level is moderate and the fragrance is pleasant, that classic cedar smell, though not quite as strong as its red cedar cousins.

Seasoning is quick at 3 to 6 months. So at least you're not waiting years for wood that doesn't produce much heat. Small victories.

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. White Cedar is a kindling wood and that's about it. The coals are poor, it burns through incredibly fast, and the heat output just isn't there for anything serious. If you've got a pile of it from clearing some land, use it to get your fires started and mix in something heavier for the actual burn. Common throughout the Northeast and Midwest, so you'll see plenty of it. For a cedar that actually performs better, take a look at Eastern Redcedar, same family, a little more to offer.