How Big Is a Cord of Firewood?
A full cord is a precise volume: 128 cubic feet, the amount of neatly stacked wood in a pile 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. Because it's a volume, you can measure any tidy stack — length times height times depth — and compare it to 128 to see what fraction of a cord you actually have. The calculator does exactly that, converting your log length from inches to feet along the way.
Cord vs. face cord
The most common firewood ripoff isn't fake wood — it's fuzzy terminology. A "face cord" (or "rick") is a stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long but only one log deep, typically 16 inches. That's only about a third of a full cord, yet sellers sometimes advertise it as "a cord." If your delivered stack measures well under 128 cubic feet, you likely bought a face cord. Knowing your stack's true volume lets you check what you paid for before the truck leaves.
Stack it to measure it
Loosely thrown wood has air gaps that make volume estimates unreliable, so measure wood that's stacked tight and squared off. Season firewood six months to a year until it's below about 20% moisture — a cheap moisture meter tells you when it's ready to burn cleanly. Wet wood wastes energy boiling off water and coats your chimney in creosote.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the dimensions of a cord?
- 128 cubic feet — a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long when neatly piled.
- Is a face cord the same as a cord?
- No. A face cord is only one log deep, usually about a third of a full cord despite similar-looking length and height.
- How dry should firewood be?
- Below about 20% moisture. Season it six months to a year and check with a moisture meter.