How Big Is a Cord of Wood?

How to use the firewood cord calculator

1. Measure the stack height in feet, from the ground to the top of the pile, and enter it in “Stack height (ft)”. A warning appears if the height is outside 0.5 to 12 ft.
2. Measure the stack length in feet and enter it in “Stack length (ft)”.
3. Measure one log in inches and enter it in “Log length (in)”. A warning appears if the log length is outside 8 to 48 in.
4. Enter the number of rows of logs stacked from front to back in “Rows deep”. The stack depth is log length × rows ÷ 12, in feet. For example, 3 rows of 16 in logs make 4 ft of depth.
5. Read the results. “Full cords”, “Stacked volume”, the volume in cubic meters and “Face cords at this log length” describe your stack. “A full cord at this log length” shows how a full cord is stacked with your logs, and “Solid wood inside (typical)” gives a range.
6. For a quote check, open “More options” and type the “Amount you were quoted”, choosing cords, face cords or cubic feet under “Quoted in”. Optionally type the “Price you were quoted”. Read the amount as cubic feet and as a share of a full cord, along with the “Price per full cord”.

To start from a common setup, choose a preset: one face of 16 in logs, a full cord of 16 in logs (3 rows), one face of 12 in logs or one face of 24 in logs.

How big is a cord of wood?

A cord of wood is 128 cubic feet of ranked, well stowed wood, which is a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft wide and 8 ft long. That 128 cubic feet definition is the one in NIST Handbook 130, as quoted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, so it is the reference this calculator uses.

The dimensions of a cord of wood describe the stacked space, not the wood alone. Solid wood inside a cord is typically 70 to 80 cubic feet, with the rest air, according to South Dakota State University Extension. This is why two stacks of the same size can hold different amounts of solid wood.

The calculator works out the volume of your own stack with one formula: stacked volume in cubic feet = height × length × depth. Depth comes from the log length, which you enter in inches, so stack depth is log length × rows ÷ 12 in feet. Three rows of 16 in logs give 4 ft of depth, which matches the full cord size.

Once you have cubic feet, the other units follow. Divide cubic feet by 128 to get cords. Multiply cubic feet by 0.028316846592 to get cubic meters. For example, a 4 × 8 ft stack of one row of 16 in logs is 42.67 ft³, which is 0.3333 cord and 1 face cord. Three rows make 128 ft³, which is 1 cord, 3 face cords and 3.625 m³.

How many cubic feet in a cord of wood?

A full cord of wood is 128 cubic feet. A face cord is a different unit: a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long that is as deep as the pieces are long, according to Utah State University Extension. Its volume is therefore 32 ft² × log length in feet, so a face cord changes size with the log length.

The NIST Handbook does not define “face cord,” and sizes vary by seller. Washington’s rule forbids the terms “face cord,” “rack,” “pile” and “truckload” when selling wood for fuel, so a seller’s word alone does not tell you the size. This calculator uses the Utah State definition, and it is worth asking any seller for the dimensions in feet.

Log length matters because it sets the depth of each face cord. A face cord of 12 in logs is 32 ft³, which is 1/4 cord. A face cord of 24 in logs is 64 ft³, which is 1/2 cord. The calculator shows how many face cords your stack equals at the log length you choose.

Sources (checked 15 October 2026): agr.wa.gov · extension.sdstate.edu · extension.usu.edu · mdc.mo.gov

Worked examples

Calculated by the tool above; open it with the same values to see each step.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check how much firewood a quote covers?

Type the seller’s amount into the optional quote check under “More options”. The tool shows that amount as cubic feet and as a share of a full cord. It also gives the price per full cord, calculated as price ÷ cords, but only if you type a price.

What is a face cord, and why does its length vary?

A face cord is a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long that is as deep as the pieces are long, using the Utah State University Extension definition. Washington’s rule bans the words “face cord,” “rack,” “pile” and “truckload” when selling wood for fuel. Ask the seller for dimensions in feet, because terms like face cord or rick can mean different sizes to different sellers.

How many face cords are in a full cord?

A full cord equals 3 face cords at 16 in logs. A face cord of 16 in logs is 42.67 ft³, or 1/3 cord. Other log lengths give 32 ft³ at 12 in (1/4 cord), 48 ft³ at 18 in (3/8 cord), 53.33 ft³ at 20 in and 64 ft³ at 24 in (1/2 cord).

Why do heat values differ between tables?

The heat table shows million BTU per cord for six woods, drawn from three published tables: Missouri Department of Conservation, Utah State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension. The tables disagree. White oak is 27.0 and 29.1, ash is 20 to 24.2, and redcedar is 18.9 and 21. None of the tables states moisture the same way, so the values are shown side by side rather than averaged.

What log lengths and stack heights can I enter?

Warnings appear if the log length is outside 8 to 48 in or the stack height is outside 0.5 to 12 ft. These warnings only check the tool’s input range.

Does the calculator check the rules for selling firewood?

No. Results are calculated from your inputs, so they show the size of a stack and nothing about what a seller may legally call a cord. Rules differ by state, so check your local weights and measures rules yourself.

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