Firewood Calculator
Cords in a stack and what they cost
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Firewood Calculator is built for cords in a stack and what they cost — fast, free, and private. You supply Stack Length (ft), Stack Height (ft) and Log Depth (ft) to Firewood; the answer follows at once. Firewood ties each output to its formula. That makes Firewood handy for quick estimates anywhere. No account is needed for Firewood. The browser does the arithmetic. Looking for firewood calculator cord volume cost or free online firewood calculator? Firewood covers both. Run Firewood twice to find the driving input. Try Firewood now and keep it handy.
What the defaults give
A stack 4 ft long, 4 ft high and 8 ft deep is 1.00 cord.
That is the definition working backwards: a cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, and 4 × 4 × 8 = 128 exactly. At $250 a cord the stack is worth $250.
The arithmetic
Cords = length × height × depth ÷ 128, with every dimension in feet.
4 × 4 × 8 = 128 ft³ → 1.00 cord.
Worked examples
8 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft = 128 → 1 cord
12 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft = 192 → 1.5 cords
8 ft × 3 ft × 2 ft = 48 → 0.375 cords
16 ft × 5 ft × 2 ft = 160 → 1.25 cords
Cord, face cord, rick
A full cord is 128 ft³ of stacked, split wood. A face cord (also called a rick or a run) is one row deep, so it is 8 ft × 4 ft × the length of the log — 16 inches deep gives about a third of a cord, 24 inches gives half. Sellers who quote a face cord at close to the full-cord price are charging roughly three times as much per unit of wood. Ask for the depth in inches before agreeing to anything.
Stacked volume is not wood volume
The 128 ft³ includes the air between splits. Loose-tossed wood takes more space than neatly stacked wood, and round, unsplit logs leave bigger gaps, so a delivered pile that measures a cord when thrown may measure less when stacked. Splitting also increases the number of gaps, which is why split wood often measures smaller after a season of settling.
Buying in practice
- Measure the stack yourself rather than accepting the seller's count, and measure in feet and inches rather than paces.
- Check moisture. Seasoned firewood reads under about 20% on a meter; green wood loses much of its heat driving off water.
- Expect shrinkage. A cord bought green can measure noticeably less once dried and re-stacked.
- Price per cord, not per load. A pickup load is a volume nobody agrees on; a cord is a defined figure you can verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet is a cord of wood?
128 cubic feet of stacked wood, conventionally 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet deep.
How much is a face cord?
One row of 8 × 4 feet, so it depends on log length: 16-inch logs give about a third of a cord, 24-inch logs give half.
Is a Rick the same as a cord?
No. A rick is a face cord — a single row — and is usually a third to a half of a full cord depending on the depth.
Why does my delivered cord look small?
Loose delivery measures larger than a tidy stack, and green wood shrinks as it dries. Re-stack it and measure 128 ft³ before calling it short.
How much does a cord cost?
The calculator uses whatever price you enter, here $250. Regional prices vary widely with species and delivery, so replace the default with a local quote.
How many cords do I need for a winter?
A wood stove in a cold climate commonly uses two to four cords a season; measure your actual burn from last year rather than using an average.
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