Firewood Cord Calculator
Getting a fair deal on firewood? Enter your stack dimensions to see what fraction of a full cord it is and the implied price per cord.
Firewood racks, covers and moisture meters
Learn moreKnow what a cord really is
A full cord is a precisely defined volume: a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long — 128 cubic feet. A “face cord” or “rick” is only as deep as the logs are long (often 16 in), so it’s about one-third of a full cord. Sellers sometimes blur the difference.
How it’s calculated & sources
Volume = length × height × log-depth (converted to feet). Cords = volume ÷ 128. The implied price per cord divides your total price by the number of cords.
Benchmark: a full cord = 128 cubic feet (4×4×8 ft), the legal definition in most U.S. states. A face cord is roughly one-third of that.
Results update as you type and are general estimates, not personalized financial, tax, medical or legal advice. Verify with a professional.
Worked example
A stack 8 ft long, 4 ft high, with 16-inch logs is about 43 cubic feet — 0.33 of a cord, i.e. one face cord. At $250 that’s a steep ~$750 per full cord.
Frequently asked questions
What is a face cord?
A stack 4 ft × 8 ft but only one log deep (commonly 16 in). That’s about a third of a full cord, so compare prices on a full-cord basis.
Does wood type matter?
For heat, yes — dense hardwoods like oak give more BTUs per cord than softwoods. This tool measures volume, not heat content.