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)
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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