How it works
The formula
cords = cu ft ÷ 128
one face cord = 4 × 8 ft × piece length = piece length ÷ 48 of a cord
Assumptions
- A cord is 128 cu ft (3.62 m³) of wood stacked tight in rows: 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long. It's the legal unit of sale in most states (NIST Handbook 130). The 128 cu ft includes the air between the pieces.
- A face cord, also called a rick or stove cord, is a 4 × 8 ft stack one row deep. With 16 in pieces it's a third of a cord; with 24 in pieces, half. Some states don't allow sales by the face cord, so ask the seller for the piece length.
- Measure a tight, straight stack. Loose, crisscrossed or thrown-in wood holds less wood per cubic foot than a stacked cord; a pickup bed of loose wood is usually well under half a cord.
- The typical price is a national range for seasoned hardwood, $250–$500 a cord (checked Oct 2026). Softwood, unseasoned wood and buying at the woodlot cost less; delivery, stacking and kiln-dried wood cost more.
Worked example
A 16 ft long, 4 ft high row of 16 in pieces
- 16 × 4 × 16 ÷ 12 = 85.3 cu ft
- 85.3 ÷ 128 = 0.67 cord
- A face cord of 16 in pieces is 0.33 cord, so this is 2 face cords
- At $150 a face cord, that's 150 × 3 = $450 per full cord
How much of a cord is a face cord?
| Piece length | Cu ft | Share of a cord | Face cords per cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 32.0 | 0.25 | 4 |
| 16 in | 42.7 | 0.33 | 3 |
| 18 in | 48.0 | 0.38 | 2.67 |
| 24 in | 64.0 | 0.50 | 2 |
Common stack sizes
| Stack (16 in pieces) | Cords | Face cords | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 4 ft | 0.33 | 1 | $83.33–$166.67 |
| 16 × 4 ft | 0.67 | 2 | $166.67–$333.33 |
| 24 × 4 ft | 1.00 | 3 | $250–$500 |
| 8 × 6 ft | 0.50 | 1.5 | $125–$250 |
| 16 × 6 ft | 1.00 | 3 | $250–$500 |
Questions people ask
How big is a cord of wood?
128 cubic feet stacked tight: 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long, or any stack with the same volume, like 2 ft deep and 16 ft long. That's about 3.62 m³.
What is a face cord?
A stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long but only one piece deep. With the usual 16 in pieces, three face cords make a full cord, so a face cord is a third of a cord. With 12 in pieces it's a quarter. Always ask for the piece length when buying by the face cord or rick.
How much does a cord of firewood cost?
About $250 to $500 a cord for seasoned hardwood, delivered, in most of the U.S. (checked Oct 2026). Maine's statewide dealer survey put seasoned, delivered cord wood at $355 a cord in 2026. Prices rise through the winter, so buying in spring or summer is usually cheaper.
Is $150 for a face cord a good price?
With 16 in pieces, three face cords make a cord, so $150 a face cord is $450 a full cord, within the typical $250–$500. Type any price into the calculator to convert it.
How much firewood do I need for a winter?
It depends on the stove, the house and the climate. A fireplace used on weekends can burn well under a cord; a wood stove that's the main heat in a cold climate can burn 3 to 6 cords or more. Your past winters are the best guide, so measure this year's pile in spring.