🪵 Firewood Cord Calculator
Measure your neatly stacked woodpile's length, height and depth to see how many cords it holds.
Full cords
1
Face cords (16″ logs)
3
Volume
128 ft³
A full cord is a stack measuring 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft = 128 cubic feet of wood, air gaps included. A face cord (or "rick") is 4 ft high × 8 ft long but only one log deep — so for 16-inch logs it\'s about a third of a full cord. Measure the neatly stacked pile, not a loose heap. 🔒 In your browser.
How the firewood cord calculator works
Firewood is sold by the cord — a stack measuring 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft, which is 128 cubic feet of wood and air. The tool multiplies your stack's length, height and depth to get its volume, divides by 128 for full cords, and also gives face cords (a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long but only one log deep) for 16-inch logs. Measure the tightly stacked pile in feet (or metres) — a loose, thrown heap contains less wood than the same volume neatly stacked.
A "cord" always means 128 cubic feet, but a "face cord" or "rick" depends on the log length: for 16-inch logs it's about a third of a full cord, for 24-inch logs about half. When buying, confirm whether a price is for a full cord or a face cord, and measure the delivered wood stacked, not piled.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cord of firewood?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet — a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. This calculator divides your stack's volume by 128 to give the number of cords.
What is the difference between a cord and a face cord?
A full cord is 4×4×8 ft (128 ft³). A face cord (or rick) is 4 ft high × 8 ft long but only as deep as the logs are long — so for 16-inch logs it's about one-third of a full cord. Always clarify which you're buying.
How do I measure a firewood stack?
Stack the wood tightly in a rectangle and measure its length, height and depth. Multiply the three for the volume, then divide by 128 for cords. Loose or thrown piles hold less wood than neatly stacked ones of the same size.
How much is a face cord of 16-inch wood?
A face cord of 16-inch logs is a 4 ft × 8 ft stack about 1.33 ft deep — roughly 42.7 cubic feet, or about one-third of a full cord. This tool shows face cords alongside full cords.
Why does stacking matter for firewood volume?
A cord is a stacked measure — 128 ft³ of neatly stacked wood. The same wood thrown loosely takes up more apparent space but contains less actual wood (more air), so sellers and buyers should measure it stacked.