Firewood Cord Calculator
Find how many cords a wood stack contains.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Firewood is sold by the cord, but stacks come in many sizes, and this calculator tells you how much wood you actually have. You enter the length, height, and depth of a stacked pile of wood, and it returns how many cords it contains, the volume in cubic feet, and what percentage of a full cord that is. A full cord is defined as 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, the volume of a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep, so the calculation simply multiplies the three dimensions and divides by 128. This is genuinely useful because firewood terminology is often loose and inconsistent: sellers may advertise a face cord, rick, or truckload, terms that are not standardized and usually contain much less than a full cord. A face cord, for example, is typically 8 feet by 4 feet but only as deep as the log length, often 16 inches, making it about a third of a full cord. Measuring your delivered stack and computing the cords lets you check you received what you paid for, a common source of disputes. For an accurate measurement, stack the wood neatly and tightly, since loosely piled wood has more air gaps and less actual wood. Enter your stack's dimensions to find how many cords it holds.
Cords = (L × H × W) / 128
A full cord of firewood is a stack measuring 128 cubic feet, traditionally 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep. Multiplying a stack's three dimensions gives its volume in cubic feet, and dividing by 128 gives how many cords it contains. This helps verify you received the amount of wood you paid for.
Source:Firewood measurement
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter stack length, stack height and stack depth.
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Cords updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cord of firewood?
A cord is the standard unit for firewood, defined as 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood. The classic dimensions are 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep. Because it is a volume, any neatly stacked pile totaling 128 cubic feet is a cord, which the calculator checks from your stack's measurements.
How do I calculate cords from a stack?
Multiply the stack's length, height, and depth in feet to get the volume in cubic feet, then divide by 128. For example, an 8-by-4-by-4-foot stack is 128 cubic feet, exactly one cord. The calculator does this and also shows the percentage of a full cord, helping you verify a delivery.
What is a face cord?
A face cord, sometimes called a rick, is a stack 8 feet long and 4 feet high but only as deep as the logs are long, commonly 16 inches. That makes it roughly one-third of a full cord. Because the depth varies, face cords are not standardized, so measuring the actual volume is the only reliable way to know how much wood you have.
Why measure my firewood delivery?
Firewood terms like truckload, rick, or face cord are inconsistent and often contain far less than a full cord, leading to disputes over quantity. Measuring your neatly stacked delivery and calculating the cords confirms you received what you paid for. This is one of the most common reasons buyers check their firewood volume.
How should I stack wood for an accurate measurement?
Stack the wood neatly and tightly in straight, parallel rows so the pieces sit close together with minimal gaps. Loosely thrown or crisscrossed wood contains more air and less actual wood for the same outer dimensions, which would overstate the cord count. A tight, orderly stack gives a measurement that reflects the true amount of firewood.