How big is a cord of firewood?

A cord is 128 cubic feet of wood that is ranked and well stowed, which is a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long (4 × 4 × 8) or any stack with the same volume. It is about 3.62 cubic metres. NIST Handbook 130, which many states use as the model for their rules, defines it that way.

What is a face cord, and is it a cord?

No. A "face cord", "rick" or "rank" is not a standard unit. It is usually a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long and one piece deep, so its size depends on the length of the pieces: 16 in is 1/3 of a cord, 12 in is 1/4, 18 in is 3/8 and 24 in is 1/2. This page treats the term as informal and shows what it comes to; a seller's face cord may be a different size, so ask for the dimensions.

Is it legal to sell firewood by the face cord?

It depends on the state, so check yours. Weights and measures offices that follow NIST Handbook 130 require firewood to be sold by the cord, a fraction of a cord or the cubic metre, and some say in so many words that terms such as "face cord", "rick", "rack", "pile" or "truckload" cannot be used as a measure (Washington and Connecticut, for example, and see the sources). A seller may still say "face cord" in casual talk, but a receipt should show the cord, or fraction of a cord, that the price is for. Ask your state’s weights and measures office if in doubt.

How do I work out the price per cord from a face cord price?

Divide the face cord price by its fraction of a cord, which is the piece length ÷ 48. If a seller asks $80 for a face cord of 16 in pieces, that is 1/3 of a cord, so $240.00 per cord. The same $80 for 24 in pieces is half a cord, so $160.00 per cord. Pick "A face cord" in the price field, enter the piece length and the price, and the result shows the price per true cord.

How do I measure a stack?

Stack the wood neatly, with the pieces parallel and touching and as few gaps as you can leave. Measure the length and the height of the stack, and the length of the pieces. A stack 8 ft long, 4 ft high and 16 in deep is 42.7 cu ft, or 0.333 of a cord. If you have several rows or stacks of the same size, enter how many. Wood that is thrown in a pile or a truck bed cannot be measured until it is stacked, which is why many states’ rules talk about wood that is ranked and well stowed.

How many cords are in a bigger stack?

A stack 16 ft long and 6 ft high of 24 in pieces is 192 cu ft, which is 1.5 cords. Three stacks of 8 × 4 ft at 16 in is 128 cu ft, 1 cords, which is one cord. The reference table gives common sizes.

A stère is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic metre, used for cut and stacked firewood. A cord is about 3.62 m³, so a stère is about 0.28 of a cord. The stère is for logs about 1 m long; for shorter logs, sellers sometimes quote a smaller solid volume, so ask what the stack measures. The calculator shows the stacked m³.

What if the seller quotes a price for a whole load?

Stack it, measure the stack and choose "The whole stack(s) entered above". A load priced at $150 that stacks to 8 ft × 4 ft × 16 in is 0.33 of a cord, so $450.00 per cord. That figure is for the volume of wood once stacked, not for the volume of the truck bed.

Does this tell me how much heat the wood gives, or what species to buy?

No. The calculator measures volume only. The heat in a cord depends on the species and how dry the wood is, and no figure is built in here. Ask the seller what the wood is and how long it has been seasoned, or see your state’s extension service for firewood information.

Firewood Cord Calculator: Cords, Face Cords and Price per Cord

A stack 8 ft long and 4 ft high of 16 in pieces holds 0.33 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³): 8 × 4 × 16/12 = 42.7 cu ft, divided by the 128 cu ft in a cord. That is what sellers usually call a "face cord", which is not a legal unit of sale. Enter the stack length, height and the length of the pieces, and add the price you were quoted to see what a true 128 cu ft cord would cost.

Figures based on the sources listed belowUpdated 2026-10-06How we calculate

Stack length

Stack height

Piece length (stack depth) (in)

The length of the logs, which is how deep a one-row stack is. 16 in is common; 48 in makes a full 4 × 4 × 8 ft cord.

Number of stacks

Identical stacks. The totals are for all of them.

Seller’s price, $ (optional)

To compare offers: enter the price you were quoted and say below what it is for. The $80 shown is only an example; clear it to hide the price lines.

The price is for“Face cord” is not a legal unit and sellers size it differently; this assumes a 4 × 8 ft face. Ask the seller for the cord equivalent in writing.

0.33 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³)

Stacked volume: 42.7 cu ft (in 1 stack)
Cords: 0.333 cord (1/3 cord)
Cubic metres (stères): 1.21 m³ stacked (1 stère = 1 m³ of stacked wood)
A "face cord" of 16 in pieces (informal, 4 × 8 ft face): 0.333 of a cord (1/3), 42.7 cu ft
Price per true cord (128 cu ft): $240.00 ($1.88 per cu ft)
This stack at that price per cord: $80.00

Shopping list

Log rack
Firewood moisture meter
Tape measure (25 ft)
Firewood cover
Splitting maul

Show diagram

Saved projects

No saved projects yet.

Cords in a stack by size and piece length

Cords in one stack (one row of pieces deep), worked by this calculator: length × height × piece length ÷ 12 ÷ 128. The last column is 48 in pieces, which is the 4 × 4 × 8 ft cord when the stack is 8 × 4 ft.
Stack	12 in pieces	16 in pieces	18 in pieces	24 in pieces	48 in pieces
4 ft long × 4 ft high	0.125	0.167	0.188	0.25	0.5
8 ft long × 4 ft high	0.25	0.333	0.375	0.5	1
8 ft long × 5 ft high	0.313	0.417	0.469	0.625	1.25
8 ft long × 6 ft high	0.375	0.5	0.563	0.75	1.5
12 ft long × 4 ft high	0.375	0.5	0.563	0.75	1.5
16 ft long × 4 ft high	0.5	0.667	0.75	1	2

A "face cord" by piece length: fraction of a cord

Informal: a stack 8 ft long and 4 ft high (a 32 sq ft face) one piece deep, which is piece length ÷ 48 of a cord. "Face cord" is not a legal unit and sellers size it differently. The last column converts an example price of $100.00 per face cord to a price per true cord; it is an example, not a market price.
Piece length	Cubic feet	Fraction of a cord	Cubic metres	Per true cord if $100.00 per face cord
12 in	32	0.25 (1/4)	0.91	$400.00
16 in	42.7	0.333 (1/3)	1.21	$300.00
18 in	48	0.375 (3/8)	1.36	$266.67
24 in	64	0.5 (1/2)	1.81	$200.00

Methodology & assumptions

A cord is the amount of wood in a space of 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed, which in NIST Handbook 130 means pieces placed in a line or row, touching and parallel, and stacked in a compact manner. It is usually pictured as a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long (4 × 4 × 8 = 128). Stacked volume = stack length × stack height × piece length (the depth of a one-row stack) × the number of stacks, with the piece length converted to feet. Cords = stacked cubic feet ÷ 128. Cubic metres = cubic feet × 0.028316846592 (exact, from 12 in³ × 2.54 cm³ per inch). A cord is therefore about 3.62 m³. The stère is a metric unit of one cubic metre of stacked wood, so 0.276 cord is one stère by volume; the stère is nominally for 1 m logs, and a stère of shorter logs is sometimes quoted as a smaller solid volume of wood, so treat the m³ figure as the stacked space, as the cord is. The "face cord": the term is not defined in law, and sellers use it for a stack about 4 ft high and 8 ft long and one piece deep, so its volume is 32 sq ft × piece length ÷ 12, which is piece length ÷ 48 of a cord: 16 in is 1/3 of a cord, 12 in is 1/4, 18 in is 3/8 and 24 in is 1/2. This is this page's informal reading of the term; a given seller's face cord may be a different size, so ask. Price per cord: from a price per full cord it is the price itself; from a price per face cord it is the price × 48 ÷ piece length; from the price of a whole load it is the price ÷ the cords in the stack you measured. Stacked volume contains the gaps between pieces, which is why the cord is defined as stacked wood: crooked, split or loosely thrown wood holds more gaps and less wood per stacked cubic foot, and wood that is thrown or piled in a truck instead of stacked cannot be measured this way until it is stacked. The calculator does not estimate the weight, moisture or heat content of the wood, which depend on the species and how dry it is, and does not adjust for bark or splits. Metric toggle: lengths in m, piece length in cm; the cord, cubic foot and m³ figures are shown either way.

NIST Handbook 130, Uniform Laws and Regulations, Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities, section on fireplace and stove wood (as adopted by state weights and measures offices): a cord is the amount of wood contained in a space of 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed; wood is sold by the cord, a fraction of a cord, or the cubic metre
Washington State Department of Agriculture, Firewood Information: the legal measure is the cord or a fraction of a cord, 128 cubic feet; terms such as "truckload", "face cord", "rack" or "pile" have no legal definition and cannot be used as a measure
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Firewood and Stove Wood Regulations: firewood is advertised and sold only by measure, using "cord" and fractional parts of a cord or the cubic metre; other measures such as a truckload or face cord are not permitted
Texas Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures: Firewood and Oregon Department of Agriculture, Fireplace and Stove Wood Sale regulation: other state weights and measures pages on selling firewood by the cord. Rules differ by state, so check your own state’s weights and measures office
Wikipedia, Stere: the stère is a unit of volume equal to one cubic metre, used for cut firewood; the stacked equivalent depends on the log length. Wikipedia, Cord (unit), for the face cord as a stack 4 ft high, 8 ft wide and 16 in deep, one third of a cord, and the regional terms rick, rank and rack (a reference, not a legal source)
Conversion: 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly, so 1 cu ft = 0.028316846592 m³. The face cord fractions and the price comparison are this site’s own arithmetic from the definitions above, not a standard

How to measure firewood and compare the price per cord

Stack the wood. Stack the pieces in rows, parallel and touching, with as few gaps as possible. A cord is measured as stacked wood.
Measure the stack. Measure the length and the height of the stack, and the length of the pieces, which is the depth of a one-row stack. Enter how many stacks you have.
Read the cords. The calculator multiplies length × height × piece length to get cubic feet, and divides by 128 for cords.
Enter the price you were quoted. Add the seller’s price and say whether it is for a full cord, a "face cord" or the whole stack.
Compare the price per true cord. Compare the price per cord from each seller. Ask for the price per cord, or fraction of a cord, on the receipt.

Worked examples

Project	Result
Stack 8 ft long, 4 ft high, 16 in pieces	0.33 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³), which is what sellers call a "face cord" of 16 in pieces
Stack 16 ft long, 6 ft high, 24 in pieces	1.5 cords (192 cu ft, 5.44 m³)
Three stacks, each 8 ft long, 4 ft high, 16 in pieces	1 cord (128 cu ft, 3.62 m³), one cord
A "face cord" of 16 in pieces quoted at $80	0.33 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³); $240.00 per true cord
A "face cord" of 24 in pieces quoted at $80, an 8 × 4 ft stack	0.5 cord (64 cu ft, 1.81 m³); $160.00 per true cord
A full cord (8 ft long, 4 ft high, 48 in pieces) quoted at $260	1 cord (128 cu ft, 3.62 m³); $260.00 per cord
A load quoted at $150, stacked 8 ft long, 4 ft high, 16 in pieces	0.33 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³); $450.00 per true cord

Frequently asked questions

How big is a cord of firewood?: A cord is 128 cubic feet of wood that is ranked and well stowed, which is a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long (4 × 4 × 8) or any stack with the same volume. It is about 3.62 cubic metres. NIST Handbook 130, which many states use as the model for their rules, defines it that way.
What is a face cord, and is it a cord?: No. A "face cord", "rick" or "rank" is not a standard unit. It is usually a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long and one piece deep, so its size depends on the length of the pieces: 16 in is 1/3 of a cord, 12 in is 1/4, 18 in is 3/8 and 24 in is 1/2. This page treats the term as informal and shows what it comes to; a seller's face cord may be a different size, so ask for the dimensions.
Is it legal to sell firewood by the face cord?: It depends on the state, so check yours. Weights and measures offices that follow NIST Handbook 130 require firewood to be sold by the cord, a fraction of a cord or the cubic metre, and some say in so many words that terms such as "face cord", "rick", "rack", "pile" or "truckload" cannot be used as a measure (Washington and Connecticut, for example, and see the sources). A seller may still say "face cord" in casual talk, but a receipt should show the cord, or fraction of a cord, that the price is for. Ask your state’s weights and measures office if in doubt.
How do I work out the price per cord from a face cord price?: Divide the face cord price by its fraction of a cord, which is the piece length ÷ 48. If a seller asks $80 for a face cord of 16 in pieces, that is 1/3 of a cord, so $240.00 per cord. The same $80 for 24 in pieces is half a cord, so $160.00 per cord. Pick "A face cord" in the price field, enter the piece length and the price, and the result shows the price per true cord.
How do I measure a stack?: Stack the wood neatly, with the pieces parallel and touching and as few gaps as you can leave. Measure the length and the height of the stack, and the length of the pieces. A stack 8 ft long, 4 ft high and 16 in deep is 42.7 cu ft, or 0.333 of a cord. If you have several rows or stacks of the same size, enter how many. Wood that is thrown in a pile or a truck bed cannot be measured until it is stacked, which is why many states’ rules talk about wood that is ranked and well stowed.
How many cords are in a bigger stack?: A stack 16 ft long and 6 ft high of 24 in pieces is 192 cu ft, which is 1.5 cords. Three stacks of 8 × 4 ft at 16 in is 128 cu ft, 1 cords, which is one cord. The reference table gives common sizes.
What is a stère?: A stère is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic metre, used for cut and stacked firewood. A cord is about 3.62 m³, so a stère is about 0.28 of a cord. The stère is for logs about 1 m long; for shorter logs, sellers sometimes quote a smaller solid volume, so ask what the stack measures. The calculator shows the stacked m³.
What if the seller quotes a price for a whole load?: Stack it, measure the stack and choose "The whole stack(s) entered above". A load priced at $150 that stacks to 8 ft × 4 ft × 16 in is 0.33 of a cord, so $450.00 per cord. That figure is for the volume of wood once stacked, not for the volume of the truck bed.
Does this tell me how much heat the wood gives, or what species to buy?: No. The calculator measures volume only. The heat in a cord depends on the species and how dry the wood is, and no figure is built in here. Ask the seller what the wood is and how long it has been seasoned, or see your state’s extension service for firewood information.

Handy tools

Unit Converter: Convert the stack volume between cubic feet, cubic metres and other units, or a length in metres to feet.