Key takeaways
- Dry wood beats the "right" species every time: burn below 20 percent moisture (EPA).
- Softwood needs 6 months of seasoning and hardwood 12 (EPA).
- Buy local wood and burn it where you buy it.
- Ask the seller for species, split date and amount in cords.
We do not publish heat ratings or claim one species is best, because we do not have a source we can cite for numbers. This guide gives the framework and the local trees you may see offered.
What is the difference between hardwood and softwood firewood?
Hardwoods come from broadleaf trees and softwoods from conifers, although the labels are botanical and not always about hardness. As a rule, denser wood holds more fuel in the same stack and burns longer, and it needs longer to dry, which is why the EPA recommends 12 months for hardwood and 6 months for softwood. Light woods catch easily and are good for kindling, but you will feed the stove more often.
Trees you will see offered in our area
Local sellers draw on the trees that grow and get cut here: pines such as ponderosa and Jeffrey pine, white fir, incense cedar, pinyon, juniper, aspen, cottonwood, black locust and ash. Which are available changes with what is being cut. We cannot tell you which one is best without a cited source, so ask the seller what you are getting and how long it has dried.
Questions that matter more than species
| Ask | Why |
|---|---|
| How long has it been split? | Time on the stack is what dries it. |
| Has it been stored covered and off the ground? | Wood left on the ground soaks up moisture. |
| What are the pieces' length and the amount in cords? | So you can compare sellers. See the cord guide. |
| Where did it come from? | Out-of-state uncertified wood is restricted in Nevada. |
How can you tell if firewood is dry?
Look is not enough. The EPA says to test with a wood moisture meter and burn below 20 percent. Seasoned wood is darker, lighter in weight and sounds hollow when knocked together.
Buy local
Don't Move Firewood recommends buying firewood where you will use it and says Nevada prohibits the entry of uncertified firewood from areas quarantined for forest pests, including most out-of-state sources. See don't move firewood.
What the numbers would look like, and why we leave them out
Tables that rank woods by heat per cord are widely published, but we have not opened one we can cite for Northern Nevada species, and the figures depend on moisture. Rather than copy numbers we cannot source, we point you to the three things you can verify yourself: the moisture reading, the amount in cords and the age of the split. Those decide how a load of wood performs more than the name on the invoice.
Storing what you buy
Whatever the species, store it the way the EPA describes: off the ground, with the top covered, in a stack that lets air through. Keep pine needles and debris out of the pile, and keep the stack out of the first 5 feet around the house, per University of Nevada, Reno Extension. Bring a few days of wood indoors before you burn it.
Firewood from Battle Born Tree Service
We sell a variety of Reno firewood. Availability and species change, so call 775.232.8243 for what is on hand and for pricing.
Sources
- US EPA Burn Wise: Best Wood Burning Practices (read October 17, 2026)
- US EPA Burn Wise: Build Firewood Storage (read October 17, 2026)
- Don't Move Firewood: Nevada (read October 17, 2026)