Free firewood cord calculator
Find the full cords in your stack, or convert between cords, face cords, ricks, and bundles. Use your actual measurements for a clearer answer.
One full cord = 128 cubic feet of neatly stacked firewood.
Length × height × depth in feet ÷ 128 = full cords.
Your stack contains
1
Full cords
128 cubic feet
Calculation: 8 × 4 × (48 ÷ 12) = 128 cubic feet. Divide by 128 = 1 full cords.
Results round to four decimal places. These are stacked-volume estimates; loose piles and truckloads need to be stacked and measured first.
How to measure a cord of firewood
Follow one row from its measurements to its full cord equivalent. Select a step to see how it works.
Three measurements. One neatly stacked row.
The example uses one 8 × 4 ft row with 16-inch logs. Measure your own stack in the calculator above.
The example: 8 ft × 4 ft × (16 in ÷ 12) = 42.6667 cubic feet. Divide by 128 = ⅓ of a full cord.
The 128-cubic-foot definition and compact stacking method follow the NCWM firewood measurement guide hosted by NIST. Penn State Extension also explains measuring a stack and dividing its volume by 128.
Full cord vs. face cord: measurement reference
A full cord has a fixed volume. A face cord depends on the depth of the row. These examples use a stack 8 feet long and 4 feet high.
See how the rows add up.
Each row is 8 ft long and 4 ft high. Choose a log length to see how many rows fill a full cord.
⅓ cord per row
3 rows × 16 in = 48 in deepFront row: 16 in deep · ⅓ cord
| Measure | Length × height × depth | Cubic feet | Full cords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 8 ft × 4 ft × 48 in | 128 | 1 |
| Half cord | 8 ft × 4 ft × 24 in | 64 | ½ |
| 16-inch face cord | 8 ft × 4 ft × 16 in | 42.6667 | ⅓ |
| 12-inch face cord | 8 ft × 4 ft × 12 in | 32 | ¼ |
Rick and face-cord labels can mean different amounts. Confirm all three dimensions. The converter starts with 16-inch logs and a 0.75-cubic-foot bundle; both values are editable and do not define every seller's units.
Firewood measurement questions
How many cubic feet are in a cord of wood?
One full cord is 128 cubic feet of neatly stacked firewood. An 8-foot-long, 4-foot-high, 4-foot-deep stack is one example. Other dimensions can also make a full cord if their volume is 128 cubic feet.
How many face cords make a full cord?
It depends on the log length. For rows 8 feet long and 4 feet high, three 16-inch-deep face cords make one full cord. At 12 inches deep it takes four; at 24 inches deep it takes two. Measure the depth before converting.
Is a rick the same as a cord?
A rick has no single dependable volume. This converter models it as an 8-foot-long, 4-foot-high row at the depth you enter, just like the face-cord option. If your stack has different dimensions, use Measure a stack.
How many bundles are in a full cord?
Divide 128 by the cubic feet per bundle. If each bundle contains 0.75 cubic feet, one full cord equals about 170.67 bundles. Check the package volume and enter it in the converter; bundle sizes vary.
Can I measure a loose pile or a pickup load this way?
Stack the wood first. Empty spaces in a loose pile or truck bed do not represent the compact stack used for a cord measurement. For an irregular stack, measure smaller rectangular sections and add their cubic-foot volumes before dividing by 128.