Glossary term
What is Hardwood?
Short answer
Hardwood is wood from broadleaf trees such as oak, maple and hickory, usually dense and slow to burn.
Hardwood, explained for tree service owners
In the tree and firewood business, hardwood means wood from broadleaf, usually deciduous trees such as oak, maple, hickory and ash. The word does not always mean the wood is hard. It is simply the group of trees, and some hardwoods, like balsa, are quite soft. Most hardwoods are denser than softwoods, so they tend to burn longer and hotter when well seasoned. For a tree service owner, hardwood logs from a removal can be worth selling or splitting as firewood. Tell the homeowner what species you cut and how you handle the wood, and check local rules on moving firewood, since some pests travel in it. See our firewood BTU chart for a side-by-side look.
Related terms
- Softwood
Softwood is wood from conifers such as pine, spruce and fir, usually lighter and quicker to burn.
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