Ask for cords in writing
The NIST model rules most states follow expect firewood to be sold by the cord or a fraction of a cord, with a receipt that states the quantity. Terms like rick or face cord are not standard units.
Firewood buying & stacking
How much firewood is in my stack — and what am I really paying per cord?
Conclusion: A full cord = 128 cu ft (4 × 4 × 8 ft). A 4 × 8 ft face cord of 16″ logs ≈ 42.7 cu ft = 1/3 cord, so $150 a face cord ≈ $450 a full cord. Enter your stack or quote to check.
Stack & quote checker
Measure a stack, get cords & price per cord
Your stack
— full cords
Enter stack dimensions to see the estimate.
Stacked volume—cubic feet
Face cords—4×8 ft at this log length
Price per full cord—compare sellers with this
Assumptions appear here after a valid calculation.
Quote vs quote
Compare two firewood offers by true price per cord
Sellers quote "a face cord", "a rick", "a half cord" or "a truckload". Turn each into a fraction of a 128 cu ft cord and the cheaper offer is obvious.
Per full cord
—
Per full cord
—
—
Face cord decoder (4 ft × 8 ft face, one row deep)
| Log length | Cu ft | Fraction of a cord | Face cords per cord | $150 face cord = |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12″ | 32.0 | 1/4 | 4 | $600 / cord |
| 16″ | 42.7 | 1/3 | 3 | $450 / cord |
| 18″ | 48.0 | 3/8 | 2.67 | $400 / cord |
| 20″ | 53.3 | 5/12 | 2.4 | $360 / cord |
| 24″ | 64.0 | 1/2 | 2 | $300 / cord |
Face cord volume = 4 × 8 × (log length ÷ 12) cu ft. Price per cord = price ÷ (volume ÷ 128).
Plan the season
How many cords to replace last winter's heating fuel?
Instead of guessing from square footage, start from what you actually burned last winter (on your propane, oil, gas or electric bills). The tool converts it to useful heat, then divides by the useful heat in one cord of your wood in your stove.
Heating season only.
Furnace/boiler AFUE; electric resistance = 100.
Seasoned-wood heat per full cord, University of Illinois / Utah State Extension tables.
Closed stoves are far more efficient than open fireplaces; use your stove's rating if known.
e.g. 50 if wood is supplemental.
To show face cords too.
—
The math
heat needed = fuel × Btu per unit × old efficiency × wood share
heat per cord = species MBtu × 1,000,000 × stove efficiency
cords = heat needed ÷ heat per cord
Btu per unit (U.S. EIA): propane 91,452/gal · heating oil 138,500/gal · natural gas 100,000/therm · electricity 3,412/kWh.
How it works
Cord, half cord, face cord, rick — what each really means
| Term | Typical stack | Cu ft | Full cords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 × 4 × 8 ft | 128 | 1 |
| Half cord | 4 × 2 × 8 ft (or 4 × 8 ft of 24″ logs) | 64 | 1/2 |
| Quarter cord | 4 × 1 × 8 ft | 32 | 1/4 |
| Face cord / rick, 16″ | 4 × 8 ft × 16″ | 42.7 | 1/3 |
| "Truckload" | varies by bed size and how it is thrown | — | measure it |
Stack, then measure
A thrown pile has lots of air. Stack the delivery tightly, measure length, average height and depth, and run the calculator before you pay or burn.
Density beats volume
A cord of oak or hickory holds far more heat than a cord of cottonwood or pine. "Mixed hardwood" can hide a lot of light wood.
Common questions
Firewood cord FAQs
How big is a cord of firewood?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood, most often 4 ft high × 4 ft deep × 8 ft long. Any tight stack that multiplies out to 128 cu ft is one cord.
How much is a face cord compared to a full cord?
A face cord is a 4 × 8 ft face that is one log deep. With 16″ logs it is about 42.7 cu ft (1/3 cord); with 12″ logs, 1/4; with 24″ logs, 1/2.
Is a rick the same as a cord?
No. Rick, rack and face cord are regional names for a one-row stack whose size depends on log length. The NIST model rules say firewood should be sold by the cord or a fraction of a cord.
How do I compare two firewood prices?
Convert each to price per full cord. $150 for a 16″ face cord is $450 per cord — more than a $400 full cord.
How many cords of wood do I need for a winter?
It varies with house, climate, stove and wood. Use the winter tool: enter last winter's propane, oil, gas or kWh and your species, and it estimates the cords that deliver the same useful heat.
Which firewood gives the most heat per cord?
Dense hardwoods. Illinois Extension lists ~28.6 million BTU per cord for shagbark hickory, 26.5 for white/bur oak and 24.4 for red oak, versus ~16.1 for cottonwood.
How much does a cord of wood weigh?
It depends on species and moisture. Utah State Extension's table lists dry weights from roughly 2,300 lb per cord (cottonwood) to about 4,200 lb (white oak) — too heavy for most half-ton pickups in one trip.
Quick answers
- How many face cords in a cord? 3 with 16″ logs, 4 with 12″ logs, 2 with 24″ logs.
- How many cubic feet in a cord? 128 (stacked).
- Is $150 for a face cord a good price? With 16″ logs it equals $450 per full cord — compare that to full-cord quotes.
- How much wood replaces 500 gallons of propane? About 2.8 cords of red oak at 60% stove efficiency and a 90% propane furnace.
Planning estimate only. Actual heat depends on moisture, stacking, stove and house. Follow local firewood and burn rules.
Sources & method notes
- NIST / NCWM — Buying Firewood (cord = 128 cu ft; sell by cord or fraction; rick/face cord not standard).
- University of Illinois Extension — Firewood burning (million BTU per cord by species).
- Utah State University Extension — Wood Heating (heat and weight per cord, pines).
- University of Missouri Extension — Wood Fuel for Heating (fuel-equivalence method).
- U.S. EIA — Btu conversion factors.
Last updated 2026-10-17. Independent tool — not affiliated with any firewood seller or agency.