How Much Is a Cord of Firewood? Measure Before You Pay
Quick answer: a full cord = 128 cubic feet — a stack 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft. A "face cord" or "rick" of 16-in logs is about one-third of a cord, and the difference is the oldest trick in firewood sales.
What a cord actually is
A cord is a legal unit of volume in most states: 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood — 4 ft wide × 4 ft high × 8 ft long, or any combination that multiplies to 128. It weighs roughly 3,000–4,000 lb depending on species and moisture. A face cord (or rick) is not a legal unit: it's one 8-ft row of shorter logs, so its volume depends on log length — 16-in logs make a face cord about one-third of a full cord.
Measure any stack
- Measure the stack's length and height in feet.
- Measure the log depth — the short side — in inches, convert to feet.
- Multiply: L × H × D = cubic feet.
- Divide by 128 → full cords. A stack 8 ft × 4 ft × 16 in = 42.7 cu ft ≈ 0.33 cord.
Check it when the truck arrives — before they unload into your yard. A stack that looks the same but sits 3 ft high instead of 4 ft is a quarter cord short.
What it costs
In the US, a full cord of seasoned hardwood runs $180–$400 depending on region, species and delivery. The math that matters: if a dealer prices "a cord" at $150 with 16-in logs, you're actually paying $450 per full-cord equivalent — a 3× markup in disguise. Know the unit and the log length before you compare prices.
Seasoning matters
Green wood (20–60% moisture) wastes up to a third of its heat boiling off water and coats your chimney with creosote. Seasoned wood (split, stacked, dried 6–12 months) burns hotter, cleaner and slower. If the delivered wood is green and heavy, you paid for water. Cut, split and stack it off the ground with airflow — it'll season on your dime instead of your stove.
The buying traps
- "Cord" with short logs — 12–16-in logs mean a face cord, not a full cord.
- Loose-tossed delivery — a "pile" is never 128 cu ft of wood; stacked is the only honest measure.
- No log-length in writing — get the species, split length and stacked dimensions on the invoice.
- Green wood at seasoned prices — check a fresh split: seasoned wood cracks and rings hollow.
- Buying one cord at a time — seasoned sellers discount 2–3 cords; one-cord buyers pay the retail penalty.
Measure it, then move it
Run the firewood cord calculator while the truck is still there, confirm the log length, and you'll never overpay for a face cord again. Your stove — and your chimney sweep — will thank you.