Firewood Cord Calculator
How many cords are in a stack of firewood, what share of a cord a face cord really is, and how long a stack you need for the cords you want.
Result
0.333
A cord is a stacked volume, air included; the solid wood is less.
- Stack volume
- 42.67 ft³ (1.21 m³)
- A 4 × 8 ft face of these logs, in cords
- 0.3333
https://calcgallery.com/landscaping/firewood-cord-calculator/
Results are estimates for planning only. Actual needs vary with site conditions, products and workmanship. Always confirm quantities with your supplier and follow local building codes and manufacturer instructions. Read the full disclaimer
How to use the Firewood Cord Calculator
- Measure the stack's length, height and depth. The depth is the length of the logs.
- Read how many full cords it holds, and what share of a cord a 4 by 8 foot face of those logs is.
- Or choose the other mode to find how long a stack you need for the cords you want.
The cord
cords = length × height × depth ÷ 128 ft³face cord = log length ÷ 48 in of a full cordstack length = cords × 128 ÷ (height × depth)The full cord is 4 feet deep because its classic stack is two rows of 24-inch logs, or three rows of 16-inch ones. A “face cord” keeps the 4 by 8 foot face but is only one row deep, which is why its price has to be compared per cord, not per face.
Buying firewood
Because only the cord, and fractions of it, is a defined measure, the reliable way to compare prices is to convert every offer to cubic feet or cords. This page does that from the stack’s dimensions. It stores no heat value per cord, since that depends on the species and how dry the wood is.
With your numbers
- Cords = length × height × depth ÷ 128 ft³
Quick reference
A cord is a stacked volume, air included; the solid wood is less.
| Job | Result |
|---|---|
| 4 × 4 × 8 ft | Full cords: 1 |
| Face cord of 16 in logs | Full cords: 0.333 |
| Face cord of 24 in logs | Full cords: 0.5 |
| 16 × 4 ft × 16 in | Full cords: 0.667 |
| 10 × 5 ft × 18 in | Full cords: 0.586 |
| 2 cords, 4 ft high, 16 in logs | Stack length needed: 48 ft |
Where the numbers come from
The fixed figures this calculator relies on, and the published source each one was checked against. How the calculators are built and checked
1 source
NIST Handbook 130 (2026), IV.B Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities, section 2.4.1.2 Cord, p. 116, https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.HB.130-2026: "The amount of wood that is contained in a space of 128 ft3 when the wood is ranked and well stowed."
Used for
- A cord of firewood: 128 cubic feet of ranked and well-stowed wood, a stack 4 by 4 by 8 feet.
Common questions about the Firewood Cord Calculator
- How big is a cord of wood?
- 128 cubic feet of wood, ranked and well stowed: the classic stack is 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. That is the definition in NIST Handbook 130, which many US states follow for firewood sales. Check your own state’s rules, which can differ in detail.
- What is a face cord?
- A stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but only one log deep. With 16-inch logs it is 16 ÷ 48 = one third of a full cord; with 24-inch logs, one half. Face cord, rick and truckload are not defined measures, so the amount depends entirely on the log length. Ask for the depth, or buy by the cord.
- How many cords is my stack?
- Multiply length, height and depth in feet and divide by 128. A stack 10 feet long, 5 feet high and 18 inches deep is 75 cubic feet, 0.59 of a cord.
- How much actual wood is in a cord?
- Less than 128 cubic feet: a stack includes the air between logs, and how much depends on how straight the logs are and how well they are stacked. Enter your own estimate of the solid share to see the solid wood.