Cord of Wood Calculator
A full cord is a tightly stacked pile measuring 4 × 4 × 8 feet — 128 cubic feet. Measure your stack (or the delivery you just got) and see exactly how many cords it is.
Results
How firewood is measured
The full cord is the only legally defined firewood unit in most US states: a tightly stacked pile with a total volume of 128 cubic feet (4 ft high × 4 ft deep × 8 ft long). Everything else — face cord, rick, rank, truckload — is a fraction that depends on log length.
Formula: Length (ft) × Height (ft) × Log length (ft) ÷ 128 = full cords
| Log length | Fraction of a full cord |
|---|---|
| 12" | 0.25 cord |
| 16" (most common) | 0.33 cord |
| 18" | 0.38 cord |
| 24" | 0.5 cord |
This is where buyers get burned: a "face cord" of 16" logs is only a third of a full cord. If a seller quotes $150 for a face cord, that's effectively $450 per full cord — compare prices in full-cord terms.
Buying firewood: quick tips
- Measure the stack after delivery — reputable sellers stack it or deliver in known fractions; "a truckload" is not a unit.
- A full-size pickup with a level bed load holds about half a cord; heaped, maybe 0.6–0.7 cord.
- Seasoned wood (under 20% moisture) has cracked ends, gray color and sounds hollow when knocked together — green wood wastes heat boiling off water.
- Hardwoods (oak, maple, ash) pack roughly twice the heat per cord of soft woods like pine or poplar.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a cord of wood?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood — typically 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. Log length doesn't matter as long as total stacked volume reaches 128 cu ft.
What is a face cord of wood?
A stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long, but only one log deep. With standard 16-inch logs, a face cord is one third of a full cord.
How much does a cord of wood cost?
Typically $150–400 for seasoned hardwood depending on region and season, plus delivery and stacking fees. Prices spike in early winter — buy in spring or summer.
Will a cord of wood fit in a pickup truck?
No. A full-size pickup bed holds about half a cord stacked level with the bed rails. A full cord delivery needs a dump trailer or two pickup trips.