Wood guide
Birch Firewood: Is Birch Good to Burn?
Birch is a good firewood, and its bark makes excellent tinder. It's a little less dense than oak, ash and beech, so it burns faster, and Hyndburn Council's firewood guide suggests mixing it with a slower wood such as oak. Birch must be dried and stored dry, because it rots quickly if it's left wet.
The Logs Local team Kiln-dried logs from our yard in Keighley
In this guide
Silver birch at a glance
Betula pendula
- Heat per log
- High per log
- Density
- About 640 kg/m³
- Drying time
- Dries fairly quickly, but rots if it's left wet
- How it burns
- Burns quickly, so best mixed with a slower wood
- Smoke
- Low when dry
- Sparks
- Not known for spitting
- Splitting
- Easy, with straight grain
A good firewood for lively fires. Mix it with a slower wood such as oak for a longer burn.
Heat rating: our 1 to 5 scale based on density, where 5 is densest. Density: the Wood Database, at 12% moisture.
Is birch good firewood?
Yes. Hyndburn Council's firewood guide calls it an excellent firewood but says it burns quickly, so it should be mixed with a slower burning wood such as oak. A community energy leaflet lists oak, beech, ash and birch as the best common woods for burning.
Densities from the Wood Database for solid wood. A bag of logs has air gaps, so it weighs less than these figures suggest.
How long does birch take to dry?
Freshly felled birch is about 43% water, according to Forest Research. TRADA says birch dries fairly quickly but should be dried soon after cutting to avoid decay, and the Wood Database calls it perishable. Split it, stack it under cover with open sides, and burn it at 20% moisture or less.
Is birch bark good for lighting a fire?
Yes. The Scouts say birch bark makes excellent tinder, even when damp, because it contains natural oils. See how to start a fire without firelighters.
Is birch easy to split?
Yes. COFORD lists birch with ash and beech as straight-grained and easy to split.
Is birch in your logs?
Yes. Our mixed hardwood bag is oak, ash, beech, sycamore and birch, kiln dried below 20% moisture, for £120 a tonne bag. Prices correct as of 21 October 2026.
Questions
Can you burn birch green?
Not well. Fresh birch is about 43% water. Dry it to 20% or less first.
Why does birch burn so fast?
It's a little less dense than oak or ash, so each log holds less wood. Mix it with oak for a longer burn.
Does birch rot?
Yes, quickly, if it's left wet. Keep it under cover.
Does birch spit?
It isn't known for spitting.
More in our guide to the best wood to burn.
Logs for this guide
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