Firewood vs Propane Heating Cost Calculator
The national estimate is adjusted by your state's overall price level (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2022, U.S.=100). This is a cost-of-living proxy applied to the national firewood vs propane heating price — not a per-state firewood vs propane heating quote. Always get local quotes before buying.
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At $250 per cord, mixed hardwood delivers heat for about $16.67 per MMBTU through a 75% efficient [3] stove, while propane at the EIA residential average of $2.75 per gallon delivers about $33.39 per MMBTU through a 90% AFUE [5] furnace. Wood costs roughly half as much per unit of usable heat.
The comparison flips only when propane falls below about $1.37 per gallon at that cord price. Enter your cord price, propane price, and stove efficiency in the calculator above; it runs against the current EIA residential propane...
The wood-versus-propane decision comes down to delivered heat per dollar, not headline fuel prices. This page converts both fuels to the same unit, usable BTUs after efficiency losses, so you see the real annual gap for your cord price and local propane rate.
Ways to save on this project
Most suppliers offer summer fill programs at fixed or capped rates.
A household burning 500 gallons a year that locked at $2.20 against a $3.20 market peak saves $500 in a normal winter.
Wood covers 70–80% of heating demand on typical design days; propane handles the coldest nights and unattended hours.
This split usually cuts propane usage 60–70% — and it cuts it from the most expensive tier of the bill.
| Fuel | Annual Use | Unit Cost (2024) | Annual Fuel Cost | Equipment Cost | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cord firewood (hardwood) | 3–4 cords | $280–$400 per cord | $840–$1,600 | $2,500–$5,000 (stove) | 65–80% |
| Wood pellets | 3–4 tons | $300–$380 per ton | $900–$1,520 | $2,000–$4,000 (stove) | 70–85% |
| Propane | 500–700 gal | $2.35 | $1,100–$2,450 | $2,500–$4,500 (furnace) | 80–95% |
| Natural gas | 700–900 CCF | $0.90–$1.40 per CCF | $630–$1,260 | $2,000–$4,000 (furnace) | 80–97% |
The Bottom Line
- Mixed hardwood at $250 per cord delivers heat for $16.67 per MMBTU through a 75% stove [3], versus $33.39 for propane at $2.75 per gallon through a 90% AFUE [5] furnace.
- Break-even propane price at $250 per cord is $1.37 per gallon, and $1.92 per gallon at $350 per cord. Current EIA residential propane is $1.74–$3.61.
- Four cords replace roughly 728 gallons of propane, a $1,000 wood bill against a $2,002 propane bill for the same 60 MMBTU delivered.
- A $75 delivery charge on four cords raises effective cord cost to $268.75 and moves break-even from $1.37 to $1.48 per gallon.
- Stove efficiency swings the answer most: 55% to 65% [3] on an old stove versus 75% [3] to 80% [3] certified changes delivered wood cost by $2 to $3 per MMBTU.
Firewood vs Propane: Cost Per MMBTU Comparison
| Fuel | Input price | BTU content | Raw $/MMBTU | Delivered at efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed hardwood | $250 per cord | 20.0 MMBTU per cord | $12.50 | $16.67 at 75% stove [3] |
| Propane | $2.75 per gallon | 91,500 BTU per gallon (0.0915 MMBTU) | $30.05 | $33.39 at 90% AFUE [5] |
| Natural gas | $12.72 per MCF | 1.02 MMBTU per MCF | $12.47 | $15.59 at 80% [5][3] AFUE |
Propane at $2.75 per gallon costs more than twice as much as wood at $250 per cord once both are corrected for appliance efficiency. The gap is $16.72 per MMBTU delivered, and it grows every time propane rises or cord prices fall.
The live residential propane price from EIA is currently $1.74–$3.61, and propane heat content is fixed at $91500 BTU per gallon.
Mixed hardwood runs about $18–$22 MMBTU per cord according to EIA biomass data, which is the number that anchors every wood figure on this page.
These are estimates based on typical stove and furnace efficiencies, actual savings depend on your specific appliance ratings, insulation level, and local delivery prices.
The propane price where firewood stops winning
Break-even is the propane price that produces the same delivered cost per MMBTU as your wood. The formula is short: break-even propane per gallon equals your wood delivered cost per MMBTU multiplied by 0.0915, then multiplied by your furnace AFUE.
At $250 per cord through a 75% stove [3], wood delivers heat at $16.67 per MMBTU. Break-even is $16.67 x 0.0915 x 0.90, or $1.37 per gallon. At $350 per cord, wood delivers at $23.33 per MMBTU and break-even rises to $23.33 x 0.0915 x 0.90, or $1.92 per gallon.
The sourced EIA residential propane range runs $1.74 to $3.61 per gallon, so the low end still sits above a $1.40 break-even.
At the current $1.74–$3.61, both of those break-even points sit well below market, so wood wins on fuel cost in both scenarios.
What shifts the comparison
Three inputs move the answer more than cord price does. Efficiency is first: an EPA Burn Wise certified stove runs 75% [3] to 80% [3], while a pre-certification stove often runs 55% to 65% [3].
That 15 point swing changes delivered wood cost by roughly $2 to $3 per MMBTU at $250 per cord. Current modeled stove efficiency here is $63–$83%.
Moisture is second. Wood with high moisture content burns measurably less usable heat into the room than seasoned wood at 15% [4] to 20% [4], because energy goes into boiling water instead of heating the house.
Buying green wood at seasoned prices silently raises your cost per MMBTU by a third.
Delivery is third. A $75 to $150 delivery charge spread over three or four cords adds $0.20 to $0.50 per MMBTU equivalent, which shifts your propane break-even up by roughly $0.05 to $0.15 per gallon.
Furnace efficiency matters on the other side too, at $80–$96% AFUE modeled here.
Estimate your full wood heating season cost with the wood stove heating cost calculator.
Worked example: 4 cords versus one propane season
Start with the wood side. Four cords of mixed hardwood at $250 per cord costs $1,000 and holds 4 x 20.0, or 80 MMBTU gross. A 75% efficient [3] stove delivers 80 x 0.75, or 60 MMBTU into the house. Delivered cost is $1,000 / 60, or $16.67 per MMBTU.
Now match that heat with propane. Each gallon delivers 0.0915 x 0.90, or 0.08235 MMBTU through a 90% AFUE [5] furnace. Delivering the same 60 MMBTU takes 60 / 0.08235, or 728 gallons. At $2.75 per gallon that is $2,002 for the season.
Wood saves $1,002 in this example, roughly half the propane bill. Swap in your own cord price and the current $1.74–$3.61 to see your own spread.
Folding delivery cost into the wood side
Delivery is real money and belongs in the cord price before any comparison. A $75 delivery charge on a four cord load adds $75 / 4, or $18.75 per cord. Effective cord cost becomes $250 + $18.75, or $268.75.
Rerun the two lines. Raw cost is $268.75 / 20, or $13.44 per MMBTU. Delivered through a 75% stove [3] that is $13.44 / 0.75, or $17.92 per MMBTU.
Break-even moves with it: $17.92 x 0.0915 x 0.90 equals $1.48 per gallon, up from $1.37. Delivery raised the bar by 11 cents per gallon of propane, which is meaningful bookkeeping but nowhere near enough to change the verdict at $1.74–$3.61.
When propane actually wins
Propane wins on fuel cost only in narrow cases: very high cord prices paired with a poor efficiency stove, or a region where propane runs unusually cheap while hardwood is trucked in.
At $400 per cord through a 60% [3][4]stove, wood delivers at $33.33 per MMBTU and break-even climbs to $2.74 per gallon, which is competitive with market propane.
Propane also wins on everything that is not a dollar per MMBTU. It is on demand and thermostatically controlled, with no stacking, splitting, hauling, or twice daily loading. Stacking, splitting, and hauling add hours of physical work per cord before the first fire.
Shoulder season favors propane too. Heating for one or two hours on a 50 degree evening costs a few gallons, while a wood stove needs 30 to 45 minutes to reach steady output and then overheats the room. Many households run propane in October and May and wood through the deep cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is firewood cheaper than propane for heating?
At typical U.S. prices firewood delivers usable heat for roughly half the cost of propane. The comparison at $250 per cord and $2.75 per gallon is $16.67 per MMBTU for wood against $33.39 for propane, both after efficiency.
The exception is high cord prices combined with an old low efficiency stove. At $400 per cord through a 60% [3][4]stove, wood costs $33.33 per MMBTU and the advantage disappears. Check the current $1.74–$3.61 against your local cord price before deciding.
How does the cost of heating with wood compare to propane?
Unit prices are not comparable because a cord and a gallon carry wildly different amounts of heat. Convert both to dollars per million BTU delivered into the living space.
Wood: cord price / 20.0 MMBTU / stove efficiency. Propane: gallon price / 0.0915 MMBTU / furnace AFUE.
At $250 per cord and 75% [3] efficiency that is $16.67. At $2.75 per gallon and 90% AFUE [5] that is $33.39. Wood is 50% [4]cheaper per unit of heat that actually reaches you.
Firewood vs Propane Cost per Million BTU: Which Fuel Wins at Current Prices
Raw cost ignores the appliance. A cord at $250 holding 20.0 MMBTU is $12.50 per MMBTU. Propane at $2.75 per gallon holding 0.0915 MMBTU is $30.05 per MMBTU.
Delivered cost divides by efficiency, which is the number that matters for your bill. Wood at 75% [3] becomes $16.67 and propane at 90% becomes $33.39.
For reference, natural gas at $12.72 per MCF is $12.47 raw and $15.59 delivered at 80% [5][3] AFUE, which is why gas beats both where a line exists.
How many cords of wood equals how much propane?
One cord holds 20.0 MMBTU and a 75% efficient [3] stove delivers 15 MMBTU of that into the house.
Propane delivers 0.0915 x 0.90, or 0.08235 MMBTU per gallon through a 90% AFUE [5] furnace. Matching 15 MMBTU takes 15 / 0.08235, or about 182 gallons.
Scale it up: four cords replace roughly 728 gallons, and six cords replace roughly 1,093 gallons. Lower your stove efficiency and the gallon equivalent drops in direct proportion.
At what propane price does firewood become cheaper?
Multiply your delivered wood cost per MMBTU by 0.0915 and then by your furnace AFUE. That product is the propane price per gallon at which the two fuels cost the same.
At $250 per cord through a 75% stove [3], wood delivers at $16.67 per MMBTU and break-even is $1.37 per gallon. At $350 per cord it is $1.92. Add delivery and the numbers shift upward by roughly a dime.
National residential propane has not sustained those levels in recent years, and the current rate is $1.74–$3.61.
Propane Users: At What Cord Price Does Switching to Wood Break Even?
Run the payback, not just the per MMBTU spread. A stove offsetting 60 MMBTU per season saves about $1,002 against propane at $2.75 per gallon and wood at $250 per cord.
A certified stove plus chimney installation varies widely by region; payback typically runs three to four seasons based on installer quotes at those fuel prices. Faster if propane rises or you cut your own wood, slower if you buy premium seasoned hardwood.
Weigh the labor honestly. Stacking, loading, and ash removal add real hours, and many households keep propane as backup and shoulder season heat rather than removing it.
Content Sources
- EIA -- Annual Energy Review Table 10.3: Wood Energy by Type (as of June 2026)
- EIA -- Weekly Retail Heating Fuel Prices: Propane, Heating Oil (US Average) (as of 2026-07)
- EPA Burn Wise -- Pellet Stoves (efficiency range 70-90%, typical 80%) (as of June 2026)
- EPA Burn Wise -- Wood Smoke and Your Health (as of June 2026)
- Maine DOER Heating Fuel Price Survey (as of June 2026)
- EIA -- Residential Natural Gas Price (as of June 2026)
- EIA -- Residential Electricity Price (as of June 2026)
- EPA Burn Wise -- Frequent Questions: Wood-Burning Appliances (stove efficiency 63–84%) (as of June 2026)
- USDA Forest Products Lab -- Wood Handbook Chapter 4: Moisture Relations and Physical Properties (as of June 2026)