Firewood Cord Calculator — Cords, Face Cords & Ricks
Enter your stack dimensions (length × height × log depth) and get the volume in full cords, face cords and ricks. No sign-up, no data stored.
Air space accounts for gaps between round logs. Legal cord volume is measured "tightly stacked."
Stack volume
How cord volume is determined
- Gross volume = length × height × depth (in feet): 8 × 4 × 1.33 = 42.7 cu ft for a typical face cord row.
- Net wood volume = gross × (1 − air space): round logs stacked tight hold ~10–20% air.
- Full cord = 128 cu ft of tightly stacked wood — the only legal unit in most states.
- Face cord / rick = one 8-ft row of 16-in logs ≈ 42–48 cu ft ≈ one-third cord.
Always confirm the log length when buying: a "cord" priced cheaply with 12-in logs is a face cord, not a full cord — a 50% price difference in disguise.
Stack sizes → cords
Common purchases and what they actually deliver (16-in logs, tightly stacked).
| Stack (L×H×D) | Cubic ft | Full cords |
|---|---|---|
| 4×4×16 in | 21.3 | 0.17 |
| 8×4×16 in | 42.7 | 0.33 |
| 8×4×24 in | 64 | 0.5 |
| 16×4×16 in | 85.3 | 0.67 |
| 8×4×48 in | 128 | 1.0 |
Last updated: October 2026 · Cords assume tightly stacked round wood (10% air). Seasoned hardwood burns ~20% more heat per cord than softwood.
Firewood FAQ
A full cord is 128 cubic feet — 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft. Prices vary wildly by region and species; a face cord priced like a full cord is the classic bait.
A cord is a volume (128 cu ft). A face cord is a single 8-ft row of shorter logs — its volume depends on log length: 16-in logs make it one-third of a cord.
Plan 2–3 cords for a wood-heated house in a cold climate, 1–2 for a fireplace supplement. Seasoned wood (6–12 months dry) burns far hotter and cleaner.
No — a rick (face cord) is about one-third of a cord, roughly 1–2 weeks of heat in an efficient stove. Budget by full cords, not ricks.
Seasoned — green wood (20–60% moisture) wastes up to a third of its heat drying in your stove and creosotes the chimney. Buy seasoned and stack it off the ground.