How Much Wood is Actually in a Cord?

When choosing amongst the many firewood rack options available it is usually listed on the specifications for each how many cords – or fraction of a cord – each of the different firewood racks has been designed and built to store. This is very useful information, as long as you know how much wood is actually in a cord. Here is a basic guide:

The standard accepted definition of a full cord of firewood is as follows:  It should measure four feet high by four feet wide and have a volume of 128 cubic feet. If you have the outdoor space to house a firewood rack that is capable of holding a full cord of wood, you can get more than quite a few fires going before you need to replenish your supply, as a full cord is quite a lot of wood.

Many people who purchase firewood simply do not need that much and for that reason most dealers sell factions of cords, and this is where it can get complicated. When buying firewood you will probably hear or encounter terms like “face cord” and “stove cord” as well as the more easily understandable ½, 1/3 and ¼ cord quantities that make it easier to understand how much firewood you need and how much will fit in the firewood racks you have at home.

If you are not sure how much firewood to purchase, ask the dealer to relate the quantity to the standard full cord measure. For many firewood dealers a “face cord” measures 4 foot x 8 foot x 18 inches but it is by no means an industry standard. If you are using firewood racks to store your wood before you burn it (which is of course the sensible course of action) tell your wood dealer how big that rack is and they should be able to give you an accurate idea of exactly how much firewood you need to buy to fill it, however they personally measure their quantities.