Cord of wood calculator
Measure your stack, find out how many cords you actually received, and check whether the price you were quoted is fair.
- Stacked volume
- 42.67 cu ft
- Face cords
- 1
- Half cords
- 0.67
- Price per full cord
- —
A full cord is 128 cubic feet, stacked. Figures update as you type.
What a face cord is worth at each cut length
A face cord is always 4 feet high and 8 feet long. Only the depth changes, and the depth is the cut length of the pieces. That single number decides whether you are buying a third of a cord or a quarter of one, at the same advertised name.
| Cut length | Stacked volume | Fraction of a cord | Fair price at $300/cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 32.0 cu ft | 0.250 | $75 |
| 14 in | 37.3 cu ft | 0.292 | $88 |
| 16 in | 42.7 cu ft | 0.333 | $100 |
| 18 in | 48.0 cu ft | 0.375 | $113 |
| 20 in | 53.3 cu ft | 0.417 | $125 |
| 24 in | 64.0 cu ft | 0.500 | $150 |
Why 128 cubic feet of wood is a cord
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, and that figure comes straight from the dimensions: 4 feet high by 4 feet deep by 8 feet long is 128 cubic feet. Any arrangement totalling 128 cubic feet is a cord, so a stack 2 feet high by 8 feet deep by 8 feet long counts just the same.
The measurement is of the stack, not of the wood. Air gaps between the pieces are included, which is why a cord contains roughly 80 to 90 cubic feet of actual solid wood depending on how straight the splits are and how tightly it was stacked. Nobody measures solid volume in practice, and no state statute asks you to.
This is the one firewood unit that is legally defined in most states. A face cord, a rick and a truckload are not, which is why converting everything back to 128 cubic feet is the only way to compare two quotes.
If you want to see what those dimensions look like rather than compute them, thecord of wood dimensions calculatordraws any stack to scale and gives the measurements in feet, inches and metres.
How to measure a delivery
Measure after stacking, never from a dumped pile. A loose pile takes up roughly one and a half times the space of the same wood stacked, so a seller who asks you to eyeball the heap in the driveway is asking you to accept a measurement that cannot be made.
- Stack the wood tightly, pieces parallel, ends aligned.
- Measure the height and length of the face in feet.
- Measure the depth, which is the cut length of the pieces.
- Multiply the three, then divide by 128.
Anything within a few percent of what you ordered is normal, since the stacking tightness varies. A stack that comes in 20 percent short is not a measurement difference, it is a short delivery.
Units you will see quoted
- Full cord, also standard cord or bush cord. 128 cubic feet. The only unit defined in most state statutes.
- Half cord. 64 cubic feet, exactly half. Unambiguous.
- Face cord, also rick or stove cord. A 4 by 8 foot face at an unstated depth. Ambiguous by construction.
- Truckload. Not a unit of measurement at all. Ask for the dimensions of the load bed and the height of the stack.
Common questions
How many cubic feet are in a cord of wood?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, measured as a pile 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. That figure counts the air gaps between the pieces, because wood is measured stacked, not solid.
What are the dimensions of 128 cubic feet of wood?
The conventional stack is 4 feet high by 4 feet deep by 8 feet long, which multiplies to 128 cubic feet. Any other arrangement totalling 128 cubic feet is equally a cord, so 2 feet high by 8 feet deep by 8 feet long is the same quantity. What matters is the product of the three measurements, not the shape.
Is a face cord the same as a cord?
No. A face cord is one stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long, at whatever depth the pieces were cut. At the common 16 inch cut that is 42.7 cubic feet, exactly one third of a full cord. At a 12 inch cut it is only one quarter. The term face cord says nothing about depth on its own, which is why you have to ask for the cut length.
How much should a face cord cost?
A face cord should cost the same fraction of a full cord price as the volume it represents. If a full cord sells for $300 in your area, a 16 inch face cord is worth about $100. Paying $200 for a 16 inch face cord means paying $600 per cord.
What is a rick of wood?
A rick is another name for a face cord, common in the Midwest and South. It carries the same ambiguity: it describes a 4 by 8 foot stack face without fixing the depth, so always ask what length the pieces are cut to.
Is a half cord half of a full cord?
Yes. A half cord is 64 cubic feet, genuinely half of the 128 cubic foot full cord. Unlike face cord, half cord is unambiguous. A quarter cord is 32 cubic feet.
How do I check the cord I was delivered?
Stack it tightly, then measure the height, depth and length of the stack in feet and multiply the three. Divide by 128 to get cords. Measure after stacking, never from a dumped pile, because a loose pile occupies far more space than the same wood stacked.
Related
Cord of wood dimensions
Every cord size drawn to scale, in feet, inches and metres.
What is a face cord
The full explanation of the unit, and why states regulate it differently.
Firewood cost calculator
Compare quotes given in different units on a price per cord basis.
Average cost of a cord of wood
Regional ranges, what drives the price, and what counts as a fair quote.
How much a cord of wood weighs
Weight by species, and why a pickup carries a quarter cord, not a cord.
How long a cord lasts
Six weeks or a whole winter, and how to size your order before calling.