How to Stack and Measure a Firewood Cord

November 14, 2022

What is a Cord of Firewood?

Back in the 1600s, a cord of wood simply meant a bundle of wood tied up with string or twine. Today, a cord is the accepted standard for measuring the volume of firewood.

 

Measuring a Firewood Cord

When stacked in a neat pile, a cord of firewood measures 8' (L) x 4' (W) x 4' (H), which is equivalent to 128 cubic feet (including air and wood). Even if a cord is stacked 16’ (L) x 2’ (W) x 4’ (H), it still has the same volume as a full cord.

If you have limited storage space for your stacked firewood, a full cord might be more than you need. That’s where a face cord comes in.

Face Cord vs Full Cord

A face cord measures 8’ (L) x 4’ (H) but is 16” deep instead of 48” deep like a full cord. A half-face cord measures 4’ (L) x 4’ (H) and 16” deep. Depending on how much firewood you use can help determine how much to store. A full cord would probably supply a winter season of firewood, while a face cord would be more appropriate for areas with shorter winters.

 

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Of course, a firewood stack may not measure out to those exact dimensions. So how do you calculate the volume of a pile of wood? In this video, you can watch one of our knowledgeable customers, Elliot, of @Everything Elliot, as he breaks out the calculator to determine the number of cords he has stacked in his wood-drying shed.

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