Most firewood arguments start with one word: cord. People use it to mean three or four different amounts of wood. Here is what each unit actually holds, how to measure what was delivered, and a calculator you can use on any stack.
What is a full cord?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of wood, stacked tight. The classic shape is 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. It is the unit defined in NIST Handbook 130, the model weights and measures rules most states use, and it is the only firewood unit you can hold a seller to.
What is a half cord?
A half cord is 64 cubic feet. Stacked, that is 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 4 feet long, or 4 feet high, 2 feet deep and 8 feet long. Same wood, half the pile.
What is a face cord (or a rick)?
A face cord is one row of wood 4 feet high and 8 feet long. How deep it is depends entirely on how long the pieces are. That is the problem.
| Unit | Size | Cubic feet | Share of a full cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft | 128 | 1 |
| Half cord | 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft | 64 | 1/2 |
| Face cord, 16 inch pieces | 4 ft x 8 ft x 16 in | About 43 | About 1/3 |
| Face cord, 12 inch pieces | 4 ft x 8 ft x 12 in | 32 | 1/4 |
| Pickup load or “truckload” | Whatever fits | Unknown | Ask for cubic feet |
My splits run about 12 to 14 inches, which fits most fireplaces and stoves. If I sold “face cords” of that wood, you would be getting about a quarter of a cord each time. That is why I only sell full cords and half cords, measured by volume.
Measure any stack
Stack the wood tight, then measure the length and height of the stack and the length of the pieces. The calculator does the rest.
Measure a stack
Why does a dumped cord look bigger than it is?
Loose wood has a lot of air in it. A full cord tipped off a truck makes a pile roughly the size of a small car, and it looks like more than 128 cubic feet. Once it is stacked tight it settles into the real size. If you want to check a delivery, stack it first and then measure.
How much space do I need?
For a full cord, plan on an 8 foot run of fence or wall with 4 feet of depth, or two 8 foot rows 2 feet deep. A half cord fits a 4 by 4 foot footprint. Leave a gap between the stack and the house, keep it off the ground, and cover the top only. Not sure how much you need? Use the firewood calculator.