Firewood Price Comparison Calculator
Compare firewood prices from different sellers by cord, face cord, or truckload.
Find the best deal per actual cord of wood.
Price Comparison
Why firewood price comparison is tricky:
Firewood sellers use different units — full cords, face cords, ricks, truckloads, or “a load.” Without converting everything to the same unit, you cannot compare prices fairly. A $200 “truckload” might be a great deal or a ripoff depending on how much actual wood you get.
The key conversion:
Price per cord = Price paid / Cords received
Standard unit sizes:
| What the seller says | How much wood (in cords) |
|---|---|
| Full cord | 1.0 cord (128 ft³) |
| Face cord / rick | 0.33 cord (~42.7 ft³) |
| Half cord | 0.5 cord (64 ft³) |
| Pickup truck (thrown) | ~0.5 cord |
| Pickup truck (stacked) | ~0.65 cord |
| Large dump truck | ~2.5–3 cords |
Worked example — comparing 3 sellers:
| Seller | Price | Unit | Price per cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm stand | $350 | Full cord | $350/cord |
| Craigslist | $150 | Face cord | $150 / 0.33 = $455/cord |
| Tree service | $200 | Pickup load (thrown) | $200 / 0.5 = $400/cord |
The farm stand is the best deal, even though the Craigslist ad “looks” cheaper at $150.
What affects firewood price:
- Species: Hardwood (oak, maple, hickory) costs 30–50% more than softwood (pine, spruce) because it burns hotter and longer
- Seasoning: Kiln-dried or 1+ year seasoned wood costs more but burns cleaner and produces more heat
- Delivery: Many sellers charge $50–100 for delivery on top of the wood price
- Season: Prices are lowest in spring/summer and highest in October–December
- Splitting: Split wood costs more than rounds. Splitting yourself saves 20–30%
Typical cord prices (United States, 2025):
- Softwood (pine, fir): $150–250 per cord
- Mixed hardwood: $250–400 per cord
- Premium hardwood (oak, cherry): $350–500 per cord
- Kiln-dried hardwood: $400–600 per cord
Cost per million BTU comparison:
- Firewood (hardwood): ~$15–25 per million BTU
- Natural gas: ~$10–15 per million BTU
- Propane: ~$25–35 per million BTU
- Heating oil: ~$20–30 per million BTU
- Electric heat: ~$30–50 per million BTU