Quick answer
- Yes, black locust is very good firewood. Per cord it gives about the same heat as hickory and more than most oak.
- It seasons faster than oak. Split and stacked in sun and wind, it is often ready in 6 to 12 months.
- It pops and throws sparks, so it belongs in a closed wood stove more than an open fireplace.
- It burns hot enough to overfire a stove if you pack the firebox full of it, so mix it with lighter wood on mild fall nights.
Updated October 11, 2026. It’s fall in West Virginia, and heating season is starting.
Yes, black locust is good firewood, and plenty of people in West Virginia would put it near the top of the list. It burns long and hot, leaves a deep bed of coals, and dries faster than oak, so you can split it this year and burn it next winter.
It has a few downsides. It sparks, it can run a stove hotter than you want, and the dense rounds wear out chainsaw chains. None of those are reasons to pass on it. You just need to know about them before you load the stove.
In this post
How much heat does black locust put out?
Black locust gives about 26 million BTU per cord. That puts it with shagbark hickory and ahead of red and white oak. In the firewood charts that most extension services publish, it is always close to the top of the hardwoods.
The reason is density. A split of seasoned locust weighs a lot more than a split of maple or poplar of the same size, and more wood fiber in the firebox means more heat.
The coals matter as much as the BTU number. Locust burns down to a thick bed of coals that holds through the night, so the next morning you add a few splits instead of starting over with newspaper.
How long does black locust need to season?
Split black locust that is stacked off the ground in sun and wind is often ready in 6 to 12 months. Oak needs closer to two years. Locust has less water in it when green than most dense hardwoods, so it dries out faster.
Don’t go by the calendar. Use a moisture meter on a fresh split face and burn the wood when it reads under 20 percent. Wood split this October and stacked right should be ready for next fall.
Standing dead locust is common here because locust borers weaken a lot of trees. Those trunks are often partly dry already, but test the wood anyway. The basics are in our post on seasoning firewood for winter, and if you need a timeline for other species, see how long firewood takes to dry.
Locust resists rot, so a stack that sits a little too long won’t go punky like poplar or birch. You still want air under it, though. A simple rack keeps the bottom row off wet ground.
HKaikzo Workbench Bracket Kit
This bracket kit turns 2x4s into a firewood rack, so you don’t have to buy a welded one. It is a good fit if you’re stacking a load of locust this fall and want the bottom row off the dirt while it dries.
- 8 steel 3-way corner braces with 64 screws
- Builds a firewood rack from standard 2×4 lumber
- Rust-resistant finish for outdoor stacks
Is black locust hard to cut and split?
Black locust splits fairly well when it is green, and it gets harder to split as it dries. Split it soon after you cut it. Twisted rounds or rounds with knots can be stringy, so start at a check crack and don’t hit the middle of a knot.
Cutting it wears out a chain faster than softer wood does. The wood is hard, and locust that grew along fence lines and old strip-mine benches often has dirt in the bark or a staple in the trunk. A good chain helps, and our guide to chainsaw chains that stay sharp in firewood explains what to look for.
Watch for thorns on young trees and limbs. Black locust has short paired spines that go through cheap gloves.
INTERTOOL Wood Splitting Axe 28"
A 28-inch splitting axe handles the medium rounds most people get from locust, and it is light enough to use for an afternoon. It is a good choice if you split by hand and want something heavier than a hatchet but easier to swing than a big maul.
- 28-inch length for medium to large rounds
- Shock-absorbing composite non-slip handle
- Includes carry sheath
Does black locust spark or burn too hot?
Yes, it does both, and you can manage both. Locust pops and throws sparks more than oak or ash. That is why it does best in a closed wood stove or insert and needs a good screen in an open fireplace.
Overfiring is the bigger worry. If you pack a firebox full of dry locust and open the air all the way, the stove and stovepipe can get hotter than the manufacturer allows. On mild October nights, use a few locust splits with poplar or maple, and keep the full locust loads for January.
Don’t make the opposite mistake. Choking a locust fire down to a smolder all night makes creosote in the flue, just like any other wood. Dry wood and a fire with enough air keep the chimney cleaner, and it is worth reading up on how often to clean a wood stove chimney before the cold weather settles in.
Locust takes a little longer to light than softer wood. Start it with kindling and a few smaller splits, and add the big pieces after you have coals.
Pure Garden Fatwood Fire Starter Sticks
Fatwood sticks light dense wood like locust without paper or starter cubes. A box lasts most of a season if you use two or three sticks per fire, and it works the same in a stove or a fire pit.
- 10 lb box of natural pine fatwood
- Works in wood stoves, fireplaces, and fire pits
- No chemicals or starter fluid
Is honey locust as good as black locust?
Honey locust is good firewood too, but it is a little behind black locust. It puts out somewhat less heat per cord, and it is still well ahead of soft hardwoods like poplar. It also seasons fairly fast.
They are different trees. Honey locust has long branched thorns, sometimes several inches long, and flat twisted seed pods. Black locust has short paired spines and small flat pods. If you’re buying a cord, both are good wood to get.
Where do you find black locust in West Virginia?
Black locust grows nearly everywhere in the state. It is common along fence rows, roadsides, old fields, and reclaimed mine land. It grows fast in poor soil, and for generations people cut it for fence posts because it lasts in the ground.
So you can often get it free. Farmers clearing fence lines and neighbors with a borer-killed tree are often glad to have someone haul it away. Ask before you cut, and look up at standing dead trees before you start, because dead locust limbs can drop without warning.
If you’re working out how much to put up, our post on how much firewood you need for a winter goes through it. Locust stretches a cord further than most species. For splitting tools and rack parts, the Cozy In WV deals page has what’s currently marked down.
Frequently asked questions
Can you burn black locust in a fireplace?
Yes, but use a good spark screen, because locust pops and throws embers more than most hardwoods. An open fireplace also sends most of that heat up the chimney. Black locust gives you the most for your work in a closed stove or insert.
Is black locust better than oak for firewood?
For most people, yes. Black locust gives a little more heat per cord than red or white oak, and it seasons in about half the time. Oak sparks less, so it is a little nicer in an open fireplace.
Is it safe to burn black locust?
Yes. Seasoned black locust is safe to burn in a stove or fireplace that is in good condition. The bark, leaves, and seeds are toxic to livestock that eat them, but that has nothing to do with burning the wood. Just keep your splits away from horses that chew wood.
Can you burn black locust green?
Green locust burns better than most green hardwoods, but it still wastes heat boiling off water and builds creosote faster. Give it at least a summer of drying after you split it. Check it with a moisture meter and burn it when it reads under 20 percent.
If someone offers you a load of black locust, take it. Split it soon after it’s cut, stack it where the wind can get to it, and by this time next year you’ll have some of the hottest wood you can burn in a West Virginia stove.
Keep it for the cold nights, mix it with lighter wood while fall is mild, and keep the chimney clean. That’s really all it needs.
