Wood Heating Cost Calculator
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Heating a home with wood runs roughly $225 to $4–$8–$8,000 per season, driven mostly by climate zone, cord count, and species. A mild Zone 3 home burning 1.5 cords of mixed hardwood at $150–$350/cord lands near $225, while a cold Zone 6-7 home burning 8 cords of oak at $500/cord reaches $4–$8–$8,000. A typical moderate-climate household burns about 3.5 cords of mixed hardwood at $250–$500/cord, or roughly $875 per season.
Whether wood heat pencils out for your house depends on two numbers: how many cords your climate demands and what a cord costs where you live. This page pairs your home size and climate with current cord prices so you see the annual figure before you commit to a stove.[2]
Live fuel prices by state
Retail residential prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Updated Jul 21, 2026
| Fuel | Price | $/million BTU | Data vintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propane | $1.98/gal | $21.64 | U.S. average |
| Natural gas | $19.18/Mcf | $18.47 | U.S. average |
| Electricity | $0.1932/kWh | $56.63 | U.S. average |
Source: EIA Heating Oil & Propane Update · EIA Electricity Data · EIA Natural Gas Data
Climate zone moves your bill more than cord price
The single variable that shifts seasonal cost most is climate zone, not what you pay per cord. Two buyers paying the same $250/cord end up far apart: a mild-climate household burning 1.5 cords spends about $375, while a cold-climate household burning 8 cords spends $2,000. Before shopping for cheaper wood, look at cutting demand through insulation and air sealing, which attacks the variable that actually controls your bill.
How this calculator derives your annual cost
Seasonal cost is simple: cords burned per season multiplied by price per cord. Burn 3.5 cords at $250–$500 and you spend $875. Stove efficiency (63 to 83%) does not change that cord bill; it changes how much usable heat each cord delivers.[4] A cord of mixed hardwood holds 18 to 22 MMBTU, and an EPA-certified stove converts 63 to 83% of it into room heat.[1] Efficiency is a multiplier on effective BTU, not on dollars spent.
Cords needed by climate zone
| Climate zone | Cords per season | Range | Est. cost at $250–$500/cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild (Zone 3) | 1.5 to 3 | 1.5-3 cords | $375 to $750 |
| Moderate (Zone 5) | 2.5 to 5 | 2.5-5 cords | $625 to $1,250 |
| Cold (Zones 6-7) | 4 to 8 | 4-8 cords | $1,000 to $2,000 |
Why stove efficiency changes usable heat, not your cord bill
Buying one cord at $250–$500 costs $250–$500 whether your stove is 63 or 83% efficient. What changes is the heat you keep. That cord holds 18 to 22 MMBTU;[1] a 63% stove releases about 11 to 14 MMBTU into the room, an 83% stove about 15 to 18 MMBTU.[4] Higher efficiency means fewer cords for the same warmth, so it lowers your bill indirectly by cutting the cord count you need.
Wood versus other heating fuels
| Fuel | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordwood | $150–$350/cord | Cheapest with rural access or self-cut |
| Natural gas | $12.72–$23.62 | Piped, low labor |
| Electricity | $0.15–$0.22–$0.23 | Resistance heat is costly |
| Heating oil | $4.15–$6.92 | Common in the Northeast |
| Propane | $1.74–$3.61 | Rural standard where gas is absent |
Cut cord count before buying more wood
Air sealing and insulation trim 20 to 30% off heat demand, which drops your cord count directly. Seal rim joists, attic bypasses, and door gaps first, then add attic insulation. A cold-zone home burning 6 cords can drop to 4 or 5 after sealing, saving $250–$500 a season at $250–$500/cord. That work pays back faster than sourcing extra wood.
Season your own wood from green timber
Green wood cut and split now needs 6 to 12 months stacked off the ground, top-covered, with sun and airflow before it burns clean at under 20% moisture. Sourcing green rounds or standing dead timber instead of buying seasoned, delivered cords cuts 20 to 30% off cord price. Wet wood wastes heat boiling off water, so patience with seasoning protects both your BTU and your budget.
Upgrade stove efficiency
Moving from a 63% stove to an 83% EPA-certified unit is worth roughly one cord of heat on a 5-cord season. That difference equals $150–$350 a year, plus cleaner burns and less creosote. An old smoke dragon loses a fifth of every cord up the chimney, so a newer stove recovers wood you already paid for.[4]
| Rate | Range | Unit | What drives the spread | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA-certified stove efficiency | 63–83 | % | EPA Burn Wise certified models | [4] | 2026 |
| Mixed hardwood BTU/cord | 18–22 | MMBTU/cord | EIA AER Table A2 | [1] | 2026 |
| Residential natural gas | $12.72–$23.62 | $/MCF | EIA monthly residential avg | [2] | 2026-07-27 |
| Residential electricity | $0.15–$0.22 | $/kWh | EIA monthly avg retail residential | [2] | 2026-07-27 |
| Heating oil | $4.15–$6.92 | $/gallon | EIA weekly residential avg | [2] | 2026-07-27 |
| Residential propane | $1.74–$3.61 | $/gallon | EIA weekly residential avg | [2] | 2026-07-27 |
Rates current as of 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to heat a house with wood for a full winter?
Plan on $225 to $4–$8–$8,000 for a full winter.
Cost tracks climate zone. Mild Zone 3 homes burn 1.5 to 3 cords, roughly $225 to $750. Moderate Zone 5 homes burn 2.5 to 5 cords, about $625 to $1,250. Cold Zones 6-7 burn 4 to 8 cords, $1,000 to $4–$8–$8,000 if you buy premium oak. Self-cut wood pushes the low end lower.
How many cords do I need for a 1,500 sq ft house?
Budget about 3 cords in a moderate climate, 5 to 6 in a cold one.
A 1,500 sq ft home heated primarily by wood needs roughly 3 cords in Zone 5, rising to 5 or 6 cords in Zones 6-7. Tight insulation and an efficient EPA stove can drop those figures, while drafty construction and a mild woodstove push them higher.
Is wood heat cheaper than natural gas?
Wood wins in rural areas with cheap or self-cut cordwood.
At $150–$350/cord, wood competes hard against natural gas priced at $12.72–$23.62–$23.62, especially where you cut your own or buy local green rounds. Piped gas stays cheaper in suburban areas with low rates and no wood access. Labor, hauling, and stacking time also factor into the real comparison.
Does stove efficiency really matter for my annual bill?
Yes, it is worth about one cord a year.
On a 5-cord season, moving from 63 to 83% efficiency recovers roughly one cord of usable heat, saving $150–$350 at cord prices of $150–$350.[4] Efficiency does not lower cord price; it lowers how many cords you burn for the same warmth, plus it cuts creosote buildup and chimney maintenance.
What drives the cord count estimate up or down the most?
Climate zone dominates, in this order: zone, size, insulation, efficiency.
Climate zone swings cord count more than anything. A cold Zone 6-7 home burns two to four times what a mild Zone 3 home needs. Home size ranks next, then insulation and air sealing, then stove efficiency. Two buyers paying the same $250–$500/cord can land $1,625 apart from zone alone: $375 for 1.5 mild-zone cords versus $2,000 for 8 cold-zone cords.