What to measure
How to use the firewood calculator
Measure the stack’s length and height, then the length of one piece of wood, which is how deep the row is. If the wood is stacked in two or more rows of the same size side by side, enter the number of rows. Add the price per cord you were quoted to see what the stack is worth.
Measure a tidy stack. Gaps from crooked pieces count as wood in the measurement, so a loose stack holds less wood than its size suggests.
The formula
- Cubic feet = length × height × piece length × rows (all in feet)
- Full cords = cubic feet ÷ 128
- Face cords = length × height × rows ÷ 32, the number of 4 × 8 ft faces
- Cost = full cords × price per cord
Worked example: two rows of 16 in wood, 12 ft long and 4 ft high
- 12 × 4 × 1.333 ft × 2 rows = 128 cubic feet
- 128 ÷ 128 = 1 full cord
- 12 × 4 × 2 ÷ 32 = 3 face cords
- At $300 per cord: 1 × $300 = $300
Cords in common stacks
| Stack (length × height, piece length) | Cubic feet | Full cords | Face cords |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 4 ft, 12 in pieces | 32 | 0.25 | 1 |
| 8 × 4 ft, 16 in pieces | 42.67 | 0.33 | 1 |
| 8 × 4 ft, 24 in pieces | 64 | 0.5 | 1 |
| 8 × 4 ft, 4 ft pieces | 128 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 × 4 ft, 16 in pieces | 85.33 | 0.67 | 2 |
| 24 × 4 ft, 16 in pieces | 128 | 1 | 3 |
| Two rows 12 × 4 ft, 16 in pieces | 128 | 1 | 3 |
Common mistakes
- Treating a face cord as a cord. A face cord of 16 inch wood is a third of a cord. Sellers who say “cord” for a single row of short wood are quoting a face cord.
- Not asking for the piece length. A face cord of 12 inch wood holds a quarter of a cord, and one of 24 inch wood holds half. Ask before you compare prices.
- Measuring a thrown pile. Loose wood takes more space than the same wood stacked. Stack it first, then measure.
- Measuring the highest piece. Take the height where the top of the stack is level, or average a few spots along an uneven top.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cord of wood?
128 cubic feet. A full cord is a stack 4 feet high, 8 feet long and 4 feet deep, with the wood packed tight. NIST lists the cord as 128 cubic feet, and Penn State Extension gives the same 4 × 8 × 4 ft stack.
What is a face cord?
A stack with the same 4 × 8 ft face as a cord but only one row of shorter pieces, usually 16 inches long. With 16 in pieces it holds 42.67 cubic feet, a third of a full cord. Penn State notes the pieces can run anywhere from 12 to 32 inches, so always ask how long they are.
How many face cords are in a cord?
Three, if the pieces are 16 inches long. With 12 inch pieces it takes four face cords to make a cord, and with 24 inch pieces it takes two. Divide 48 inches by the piece length.
What is a rick of wood?
In much of the Midwest, a rick is another name for a face cord, a 4 × 8 ft stack one piece deep. Like a face cord, its volume depends on how long the pieces are, so compare prices per full cord.
How do I measure a stack of firewood?
Measure the length and height of the stack in feet and the length of one piece, then multiply the three. Divide the cubic feet by 128 to get cords. If the stack has two or more rows of the same size, multiply by the number of rows.
What is half a cord of wood?
64 cubic feet, for example a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long of 24 inch pieces, or 4 ft high, 4 ft long and 4 ft deep.
How much space does a cord of loose, thrown wood take?
More than 128 cubic feet, because thrown wood has bigger gaps. Maine law defines a loose thrown cord of 12 or 16 inch wood as 180 cubic feet. Stack the wood before you measure it, or ask the seller for the stacked volume.
How do I compare a face cord price with a full cord price?
Work out how many face cords make a cord for the piece length, then multiply. With 16 inch pieces, three face cords make a cord, so $120 per face cord is the same as $360 per cord.
Sources
Formulas and defaults last reviewed October 30, 2026. How we check our math.