Approximate Heating Value of Common Fuels

Natural Gas 1,030 Btu/cu ft 100,000 Btu/therm
Propane 2,500 Btu/cu ft 92,500 Btu/gal
Methane 1,000 Btu/cu ft
Landfill gas 500 Btu/cu ft
Butane 3,200 Btu/cu ft 130,000 Btu/gal
Methanol 57,000 Btu/gal
Ethanol 76,000 Btu/gal
Fuel Oil
  • Kerosene
 135,000 Btu/gal
  • #2
 138,500 Btu/gal
  • #4
 145,000 Btu/gal
  • #6
 153,000 Btu/gal
Waste oil 125,000 Btu/gal
Biodiesel – Waste vegetable oil 120,000 Btu/gal
Gasoline 125,000 Btu/gal
Wood
  • Softwood
 2-3,000 lb/cord 10–15,000,000 Btu/cord
  • Hardwood
 4-5,000 lb/cord 18–24,000,000 Btu/cord
  • Sawdust – green
 10-13 lb/cu ft 8-10,000,000 Btu/ton
  • Sawdust – kiln dry
 8-10 lb/cu ft 14-18,000,000 Btu/ton
  • Chips – 45% moisture
 10-30 lb/cu ft 7,600,000 Btu/ton
  • Chips – 45% moisture
 2,000,000 Btu/cu yd
  • Hogged
 10-30 lb/cu ft 16-20,000,000 Btu/ton
  • Bark
 10-20 lb/cu ft 9-10,500,000 Btu/ton
  • Wood pellets – 10% moisture
 40-50 lb/cu ft 16,000,000 Btu/ton
Hard Coal (anthracite) 13,000 Btu/lb 26,000,000 Btu/ton
Soft Coal (bituminous) 12,000 Btu/lb 24,000,000 Btu/ton
Rubber – pelletized 16,000 Btu/lb 32-34,000,000 Btu/ton
Plastic 18-20,000 Btu/lb
Corn
  • shelled
 7,800-8,500 Btu/lb 15-17,000,000 Btu/ton
  • cobs
 8,000-8,300 Btu/lb 16-17,000,000 Btu/ton
Electricity 3412 Btu/kilowatt hour

John W. Bartok, Jr., Extension Professor Emeritus & Agricultural Engineer, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT – Updated 2013.