What Is the Best Firewood for Heating Your Home?
Red Gum, Blue Gum, mixed hardwood, moisture content, density and price can make buying firewood sound more complicated than it needs to be. The best choice starts with the condition of the wood — then comes down to how you like to heat your home.
The quick answer
The best firewood starts with good, dry hardwood — not just a species name.
If you're choosing firewood for a home heater, the timber species matters, but it isn't the first thing we would look at. Wood condition, moisture, how it has been split and how you run your heater all influence the result.
If we had to answer it in one sentence:
Start with dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood, then choose Red Gum if you want our premium traditional option, Blue Gum if value is the priority, or our 50/50 Red Gum and Blue Gum mix if you want a balance between the two.
EPA Victoria recommends dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood because it produces more useful heat and less smoke than unsuitable or wet wood.
Before choosing a species
Four things that make a bigger difference than the name on the wood.
There is no single firewood that will be the perfect choice for every household, every heater and every budget. These are the things worth checking first.
Moisture
Wet or insufficiently seasoned timber uses part of the fire's energy driving off water. Dry, seasoned firewood is easier to use efficiently and helps reduce unnecessary smoke.
Hardwood
For home heating, EPA Victoria recommends dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood. Hardwood is the foundation of the bulk firewood range we supply.
Density & timber type
Different timbers have different densities and burning characteristics. This affects the way a load behaves and is one reason there is no universal conversion between a tonne and a cubic metre of firewood.
Your heater & burn style
A household wanting a steady coal bed may make a different choice from someone prioritising value or a livelier fire. The best option is the one that suits how you actually use your heater.
Our rule of thumb: don't buy firewood purely because one species has the strongest reputation. Start with suitable hardwood in good condition, then choose between timber types based on the result and value you want.
Choosing from our firewood range
Red Gum, Blue Gum or 50/50: which one suits you?
We sell all three because there isn't one answer that works for every customer. Here's how we position them based on the firewood we supply and the conversations we have with customers.
Premium choice
Red Gum Firewood
Red Gum remains the premium traditional firewood choice for many of our customers. In our experience with the Red Gum we supply, it is particularly suited to households looking for steady heat and a strong coal bed.
- Our premium bulk firewood option
- Popular for regular home-heating use
- Good choice when steady heat is the priority
- Available in bulk and bagged options
Value performer
Blue Gum Firewood
Blue Gum is our strong-value alternative for customers who want a dense hardwood and steady heating performance without automatically choosing the premium Red Gum option.
- Victorian plantation-sourced Blue Gum
- Dense hardwood with a steady burn
- Strong option for value-conscious households
- Worth considering rather than buying by reputation alone
Balanced option
50/50 Hardwood Mix
Can't decide? Our 50/50 mix combines Red Gum and Blue Gum by weight. It sits between the two individual products and is an easy option for households wanting some of each.
- 50% Red Gum and 50% Blue Gum by measured weight
- Balances our premium and value options
- Simple choice if you like characteristics of both
- Useful starting point for customers comparing the two
Make it simple
What should I buy?
If you don't want to spend half an hour comparing timber species, this is the practical version.
“I want the premium option.”
Start with Red Gum. It is our premium traditional hardwood choice and suits customers who prioritise steady heating and a good coal bed.
“I want strong value.”
Look seriously at Blue Gum. It is a genuine heating hardwood, not simply the option you buy when Red Gum isn't available.
“I want a bit of both.”
Choose our 50/50 Red Gum and Blue Gum mix. It is mixed by weight and gives you a straightforward middle option.
“I'm struggling to get the fire going.”
Don't automatically blame the hardwood species. Check moisture, airflow and your lighting method first, and start with dry kindling and smaller pieces before adding larger logs.
The part people often overlook
Dry firewood can matter more than chasing the “best” species.
A premium species in poor condition can be frustrating to burn. EPA Victoria recommends using dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood because it produces more heat and less smoke and is better for the operation of your flue.
Buying tip: firewood quality can change through a season and between loads. If the current moisture condition is important to you, ask the supplier about the wood you're actually buying rather than relying solely on the species name.
Go deeper
Two questions deserve their own Guide.
We have separated these topics deliberately so you can get the detailed answer without turning this Guide into one enormous comparison table.
Blue Gum vs Red Gum Firewood
Want the detailed head-to-head? Compare the characteristics, value and practical reasons you might choose one over the other.
Read Blue Gum vs Red Gum →Tonne vs Cubic Metre
Buying by weight and buying by volume are not the same thing. Learn why timber density, moisture and stacking make simple conversions unreliable.
Read Tonne vs Cubic Metre →Buying the amount you expect
Weight, volume and timber density are different questions.
National Measurement Institute guidance allows firewood to be sold by weight, volume or lot, but warns against assuming that a particular weight always equals a particular volume. Species density, moisture and the amount of free space between stacked logs all change the result.
For our bulk range: the Red Gum, Blue Gum and 50/50 options are sold by weight. The 50/50 mix is also built as an equal Red Gum and Blue Gum mix by weight.
Better heat, less smoke
Good firewood still needs to be burned properly.
The condition of your heater, the flue, airflow and the wood itself all affect how cleanly and efficiently a wood heater operates. EPA Victoria recommends dry, clean wood and advises against burning treated, painted or otherwise unsuitable timber.
Use dry wood
Seasoned hardwood is easier to burn effectively and reduces unnecessary smoke compared with wet timber.
Start smaller
Dry kindling and smaller pieces help establish the fire before larger hardwood logs are added.
Maintain the heater
A clean flue and properly maintained heater help the system operate as intended and reduce avoidable smoke.
Burn clean timber only
Don't burn painted, chemically treated or other unsuitable timber in place of proper firewood.
From our yard to your property
Choosing the wood is only half the job.
Our firewood is part of a wider local delivery operation supplying homes and rural properties around the Hills. If property access is tight or you're unsure what vehicle can reach your drop point, our Delivery Fleet page explains the trucks and access requirements.
Need firewood delivered?
Browse the current firewood range online, or check our delivery fleet before ordering if driveway access, truck size or delivery location may be a consideration.
Frequently asked questions
Best firewood: quick questions answered.
What is the best firewood for a wood heater?
Start with dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood. After that, the best timber depends on your heater, budget and preferred burn. In our range, Red Gum is the premium traditional choice, Blue Gum is the value-focused hardwood option and the 50/50 mix sits between them.
Is Red Gum always the best firewood?
Not necessarily. Red Gum has a strong reputation and is our premium choice, but that doesn't make every load of Red Gum automatically better for every household. Moisture, condition, heater type, price and your preferred burn all matter.
Is Blue Gum good firewood?
Yes. The Blue Gum we supply is a dense Victorian plantation hardwood that we position as a genuine home-heating option and a strong alternative for customers focused on value.
What is the benefit of a 50/50 Red Gum and Blue Gum mix?
Our mix gives you equal Red Gum and Blue Gum by weight. It is a simple middle option for customers who want some of each rather than committing to an entire load of one timber.
Should I buy firewood by the tonne or cubic metre?
Either can be a legitimate way to buy firewood, but they measure different things. Weight measures mass; cubic metres measure volume. Density, moisture and stacking mean there is no single reliable conversion that applies to every load.
Why is my firewood difficult to light?
Moisture and lighting technique are worth checking before blaming the species. Start with dry kindling and smaller pieces, establish good airflow and then add larger hardwood pieces once the fire is going.
Sources & further reading
EPA Victoria — Manage smoke from wood heaters — guidance on dry, seasoned and untreated hardwood, heater operation, wood storage and reducing smoke.
National Measurement Institute — Selling firewood — Australian trade measurement requirements for selling firewood by weight, volume or lot.
Product-specific comments about Red Gum, Blue Gum and our 50/50 mix reflect the firewood currently supplied by Upper Beaconsfield General Store and our experience selling these products.
So, what's the best firewood?
Start with suitable dry hardwood, then buy for the way you heat. Choose premium Red Gum, value-focused Blue Gum or the balanced 50/50 mix — and if you're still deciding, we're happy to help you choose.