A delivered pile of firewood can look substantial, but appearance alone cannot tell you whether it contains a full cord. To check the quantity, you need to stack the wood and measure the space it occupies.
To measure a cord of firewood, multiply the neatly stacked pile’s length, height, and depth in feet, then divide the result by 128. A full cord contains 128 stacked cubic feet, including wood, bark, and the normal gaps between pieces.
The formula is:
Cords = Length × Height × Depth ÷ 128
For example, a stack measuring 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep contains exactly one cord.
What You Need
Gather a few basic items:
- A tape measure.
- A calculator or phone.
- Paper or a notes app.
- A suitable area for stacking.
- Gloves for handling the wood.
You do not need to weigh the logs or count individual pieces. A cord is a volume measurement.
Step 1: Stack the Firewood Before Measuring
Arrange the wood in compact, reasonably even rows, with the pieces running in the same direction. Normal gaps between irregular logs are expected, but avoid large empty spaces.
A loose pile is difficult to measure accurately because it contains unpredictable gaps. Measuring the outside dimensions of a dumped load does not reliably establish its stacked volume.
For easier measurement, aim for a rectangular stack. Use stable supports where necessary, and do not build an unsafe stack just to reach a particular height.
Step 2: Measure the Stack’s Length
Measure horizontally from one end of the occupied stack to the other.
Record the length of the wood itself—not the outside dimensions of the rack or the distance between widely spaced supports.
For example, if a rack is 8 feet long but the wood occupies only 7 feet 6 inches, use:
7 feet 6 inches = 7.5 feet
Do not round up to the rack’s advertised size.
Step 3: Measure the Height
Measure from the bottom of the wood to the top of the stack.
Exclude the height of pallets, feet, or supports beneath it. If the wood sits 6 inches above the ground, that empty space is not part of the firewood volume.
For a level stack, one representative height may be sufficient. For an uneven top, take several measurements at evenly spaced points and calculate an average.
Example: Finding an Average Height
Suppose four representative height readings are:
3.6 feet, 3.8 feet, 4.0 feet, and 3.8 feet
The average is:
(3.6 + 3.8 + 4.0 + 3.8) ÷ 4 = 3.8 feet
This gives a practical estimate. If the stack is very irregular, divide it into smaller sections or restack it before measuring.
Step 4: Measure the Depth
Depth is the front-to-back dimension of the woodpile.
For a single row, this usually corresponds to the length of the logs. For example, a row of consistently cut 16-inch logs is approximately:
16 ÷ 12 = 1⅓ feet deep
Use actual measurements rather than assuming every piece matches the seller’s stated cutting length.
For several rows, measure each row separately if there are ventilation gaps between them. Empty aisles should not be counted as firewood.
Step 5: Calculate the Stacked Volume
Multiply all three measurements, using feet throughout:
Stacked cubic feet = Length × Height × Depth
For a stack measuring:
- Length: 12 feet
- Height: 4 feet
- Depth: 16 inches, or 1⅓ feet
The calculation is:
12 × 4 × (16 ÷ 12) = 64 cubic feet
Keeping the inches-to-feet conversion inside the calculation avoids rounding errors.
Step 6: Divide by 128
Convert the stacked volume to cords:
64 ÷ 128 = 0.5 cord
Your stack contains half a cord.
This approach follows the volume calculation described by Utah State University Extension: calculate the pile’s cubic footage, then divide by 128.
Worked Examples
| Stack measurements: length × height × depth | Stacked volume | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 8 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft | 128 cubic feet | 1 cord |
| 12 ft × 4 ft × 16 in | 64 cubic feet | ½ cord |
| 8 ft × 4 ft × 16 in | About 42.67 cubic feet | ⅓ cord |
| 6 ft × 4 ft × 16 in | 32 cubic feet | ¼ cord |
| 16 ft × 4 ft × 3 ft | 192 cubic feet | 1½ cords |
A full cord does not have to form a 4-by-4-by-8-foot rectangle. Other dimensions are valid when the compactly stacked volume totals 128 cubic feet.
How to Measure Several Separate Stacks
Calculate each stack’s volume, add the results, and divide the total by 128.
For example:
- Stack A: 48 cubic feet
- Stack B: 64 cubic feet
- Stack C: 16 cubic feet
Total = 48 + 64 + 16 = 128 cubic feet
Together, they contain one cord.
This method works well when firewood is stored in several racks or rows. It also prevents you from accidentally counting the empty space between them.
How to Measure an Uneven Woodpile
Small variations can be handled with representative average measurements. Large variations need a more careful approach.
If one section is much taller or deeper than another, treat them as separate blocks:
- Identify sections with reasonably consistent dimensions.
- Measure each section.
- Calculate their individual volumes.
- Add the volumes.
- Divide by 128.
This is still an estimate if the boundaries are highly irregular. For checking a disputed delivery, a neatly restacked pile provides clearer evidence than a rough calculation around a mound.
Can You Measure a Cord in Inches?
Yes. If all measurements are in inches, use:
Cords = Length in inches × Height in inches × Depth in inches ÷ 221,184
The divisor comes from:
1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot × 128 cubic feet per cord
For example:
96 × 48 × 48 ÷ 221,184 = 1 cord
Do not mix feet and inches without converting them.
What About Face Cords and Ricks?
“Face cord” and “rick” are informal descriptions whose meaning can vary. Ask for actual dimensions instead of assuming either means a full cord.
A commonly described face cord measures 8 feet long and 4 feet high, with a depth equal to one log length.
With 16-inch logs:
8 × 4 × (16 ÷ 12) = approximately 42.67 cubic feet
42.67 ÷ 128 = approximately one-third of a cord
With 24-inch logs, the same face measures half a cord. The depth changes the quantity significantly.
How to Check a Firewood Delivery
Before ordering, ask the seller to state the quantity in full cords or a clear fraction of a cord. Also confirm the log length and whether stacking is included.
When the wood arrives:
- Keep it separate from your existing supply.
- Stack and measure it promptly.
- Photograph the complete stack and measurements.
- Keep the invoice and delivery details.
- Contact the seller before burning any if the quantity appears short.
Measurement Canada’s buying guidance similarly recommends measuring delivered wood and resolving quantity concerns before using it.
If you cannot resolve a disagreement, contact the weights-and-measures or consumer-protection authority serving your location. Your home measurement is a useful check; official verification may follow specific local procedures.
Common Measuring Mistakes
Measuring Only the Front Face
An 8-foot-long, 4-foot-high stack is not automatically a cord. You still need its depth.
Counting the Whole Rack
Measure the occupied space. Rack frames, raised bases, and empty sections do not count.
Measuring Only the Tallest Point
Using the highest point for an uneven stack can overestimate the volume. Take representative readings or measure sections separately.
Treating a Truckload as a Cord
Truck beds and loading methods vary. A vehicle’s capacity does not establish the amount of neatly stacked firewood delivered.
Subtracting Every Small Air Gap
Normal spaces between compactly stacked pieces are already included in the cord measurement. You do not need to calculate solid wood volume.
Using Weight Instead of Volume
Species and moisture affect weight. Two loads can weigh the same while occupying different stacked volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Know Whether You Have a Full Cord?
Stack the wood compactly and measure its length, height, and depth. If the product is 128 cubic feet, you have one cord.
Do Three Rows of 16-Inch Logs Equal a Cord?
They do if each row measures 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and a full 16 inches deep. Three rows with those dimensions total 128 cubic feet.
Can You Measure Firewood While It Is Loose in a Trailer?
You can measure the trailer space, but that does not reliably determine cord volume. Loose pieces leave larger, less predictable gaps. Stack the wood for a meaningful check.
How Do You Measure a Half Cord?
Use the same method. Half a cord occupies 64 stacked cubic feet—for example, 8 feet long × 4 feet high × 2 feet deep.
Does Log Length Change the Size of a Cord?
No. A full cord remains 128 stacked cubic feet. Shorter logs simply change how many rows or how much stack length you need to reach that volume.
Can You Measure Firewood in Meters?
Yes. Multiply length, height, and depth in meters to obtain stacked cubic meters. Divide by approximately 3.6246 to convert that volume to cords.