This is a full cord of seasoned alder firewood, split and dried to below 20% moisture. Alder is a lighter hardwood that catches quickly, burns with a lively flame and gives off a sweet, mild smoke. It’s popular for quick evening fires, for getting a stove going, and for smoking fish and meat over an open fire.

stack of seasoned alder firewood in a log rack

It isn’t the wood for an all-night burn. Dense hardwoods do that better. But for easy lighting, a pleasant smell and a bright fire, alder is hard to beat.

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Specification

Product	Seasoned alder firewood, split
Quantity	One full cord
Volume	128 cubic feet stacked (about 3.6 m³)
Moisture	Below 20%
Burn	Fast lighting, bright flame, mild sweet smoke
SKU	FW-ALDER-1C

Ask us about log lengths before ordering, and tell us your firebox depth so the logs fit.

What alder is like to burn

Alder grows along rivers and wet ground in much of the northern hemisphere. The timber is fairly light for a hardwood. That’s why it lights so readily: less density means the fire takes hold fast.

The trade-off is burn time. Seasoned alder firewood burns quicker than oak or maple, and it gives less heat per log. In practice, people use it in a few ways:

As the main wood for short evening fires where a long burn isn’t needed
To start a fire, adding denser logs once it’s going
In milder weather, when a full blaze from heavy hardwood would overheat the room
For cooking and smoking outdoors

Seasoned alder firewood for smoking food

Alder has a long history in fish smoking, particularly salmon. Its smoke is gentle and slightly sweet, so it flavours without overpowering. It also works well with poultry, pork and vegetables.

For smoking, dry wood matters even more than usual. Wet wood gives a heavy, sooty smoke that turns food bitter. Because this alder is seasoned below 20% moisture, it burns cleanly and gives the thin smoke you want. If you cook on a pellet grill rather than over logs, look at our hardwood BBQ pellets.

Mixing alder with denser wood

Plenty of people keep two woods: a light one to start fires and a dense one to keep them going. Seasoned alder firewood makes an excellent starter. Get a bed of alder burning hot, then add seasoned maple firewood for long, steady heat and good coals. You get easy lighting and a long burn without needing as much kindling.

How alder compares with other firewood

	Seasoned alder firewood	Seasoned maple	Mixed seasoned firewood
Lighting	Very easy	Needs a good start	Easy to moderate
Burn time	Shorter	Long	Medium
Heat per log	Moderate	High	Medium to high
Smoke smell	Mild and sweet	Mild	Varies
Best use	Quick fires, starting fires, smoking food	Main heating, overnight	General use

None of these is “best” overall. It comes down to how you use your fire. For a cosy couple of hours on an autumn evening, seasoned alder firewood is ideal. For heating a house through a freezing night, a denser wood does more of the work.

Fire pits, chimineas and outdoor ovens

Alder is a good outdoor wood. It catches quickly in the open air, burns with a cheerful flame and smells pleasant, which matters when people are sitting around the fire. In a wood-fired oven, seasoned alder firewood brings the oven up to temperature fast. Many cooks then switch to a denser wood to hold the heat. Keep pieces small for fire pits so they light easily and burn down to embers before the evening ends.

Storing the cord

Alder dries relatively quickly, but it also takes on moisture again if left exposed. Keep it under cover with the sides open for air. Stack it off the ground on pallets or rails, and bring a few days’ worth inside at a time.

Cover the top, not the sides
Stack in rows with a little space between them
Keep the stack a short distance from walls
Use older wood first

Bark on alder can come away as it dries. That’s normal and makes useful kindling.

Safety basics for wood burning

A few habits keep any wood fire safe. Have the chimney swept at least once a year, more if you burn a lot. Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a stove or open fire, and a smoke alarm on every floor. Use a fireguard with open fires, especially with children or pets around. Empty ash into a metal bucket with a lid and leave it outside to cool for a day before disposing of it. Hot embers can hide in ash for longer than you’d think.

Ordering and delivery

Add the cord to your basket and check out. We’ll confirm the order, the delivery cost to your address and how the wood will be packed for the journey. We deliver worldwide, and the cost depends on distance and access, so it’s agreed before dispatch. If the drop-off point is awkward, tell us in the order notes or through the contact page.

Seasoned alder firewood: questions

Is alder a hardwood or a softwood?

Botanically it’s a hardwood, as it comes from a broadleaf tree. In the stove, though, it behaves more like a softwood: quick to light, with a shorter burn.

Does alder spit or spark?

Dry alder burns calmly. Sparking usually comes from pockets of moisture or sap, which is another reason to burn seasoned wood only. Use a fireguard with any open fire.

Will it leave much ash?

No more than most firewood. Clean out ash regularly but leave a thin layer in the grate, as it helps the next fire.

How much seasoned alder firewood should I order?

Because alder burns faster than dense hardwoods, you’ll use more of it for the same hours of fire. If alder is your only wood for main heating, allow for that. Many people use one cord of alder alongside denser wood for the best of both.

Is alder good for a wood-fired pizza oven?

Yes, especially to bring the oven up to heat quickly. Keep the pieces small and dry.

What other firewood do you sell?

See our general seasoned firewood, the dried firewood category, and the dried firewood page for storage and burning advice.

firewood for smoking

One Cord Seasoned Alder Firewood