Cord of Wood Calculator
Measure your wood stack and find out how many cords it contains.
Enter length, width, and height to calculate volume and cord count.
What is a cord of wood?
A cord is the standard unit for measuring firewood in the United States and Canada. One full cord is a neatly stacked pile of wood that measures 4 feet wide × 4 feet tall × 8 feet long = 128 cubic feet.
The formula:
Volume (cubic feet) = Length × Width × Height
Number of cords = Volume / 128
Common firewood measurements:
| Term | Dimensions | Cubic Feet | Fraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 × 4 × 8 ft | 128 ft³ | 1 cord |
| Face cord (rick) | 4 × 8 × 16 in | ~42.7 ft³ | 1/3 cord |
| Sheldon cord | 4 × 4 × 4 ft | 64 ft³ | 1/2 cord |
| Fireplace cord | 2 × 4 × 8 ft | 64 ft³ | 1/2 cord |
| Pickup truck (loosely thrown) | varies | ~64 ft³ | ~1/2 cord |
| Pickup truck (neatly stacked) | varies | ~80 ft³ | ~2/3 cord |
Important: A cord is measured for neatly stacked wood. Loosely thrown wood has about 40% air space, so a 128 cubic foot pile of tossed logs is NOT a full cord — it is closer to 0.6 cords of actual wood.
Worked example:
You have a wood stack that is 12 feet long, 4 feet tall, and 2 feet deep:
- Volume = 12 × 4 × 2 = 96 cubic feet
- Cords = 96 / 128 = 0.75 cords (three-quarter cord)
Stacking method matters:
The same volume of wood varies in actual wood content based on stacking:
- Neatly stacked, split wood: ~80–85% wood, 15–20% air
- Loosely stacked, round logs: ~60–70% wood, 30–40% air
- Thrown in a pile: ~40–50% wood, 50–60% air
If you are buying wood that is loosely thrown in a truck, you are getting significantly less actual wood than a neatly stacked cord.
Typical cord weights by species (dry):
- Oak: ~3,500–4,000 lbs per cord
- Maple: ~3,200–3,800 lbs
- Birch: ~2,800–3,200 lbs
- Pine: ~2,000–2,500 lbs (burns faster, less heat per cord)