How this calculator works
A full cord is a stack measuring 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 4 ft deep — 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. The calculator multiplies your stack’s length, height and depth to get cubic feet, then divides by 128 to get cords.
Worked example — an 8 ft long, 4 ft high stack of 16-inch logs (1.33 ft deep):
8 × 4 × 1.33 = 42.6 cubic feet → 42.6 ÷ 128 = 0.33 cords — exactly 1 face cord.
8 × 4 × 1.33 = 42.6 cubic feet → 42.6 ÷ 128 = 0.33 cords — exactly 1 face cord.
Cord vs. face cord
A full cord is always 128 cubic feet, but a “face cord” (also called a rick) is a 4×8 stack of shorter logs — commonly 16 inches — and equals about one-third of a full cord. Always confirm which one a seller means before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How many cords of firewood do I need for winter?
Most homes burning wood as a primary heat source use 3–6 full cords per heating season, depending on climate, stove efficiency, and how often it’s used.
What’s the difference between a cord and a face cord?
A full cord is 4×4×8 ft (128 cubic feet). A face cord is a 4×8 ft stack of shorter logs (often 16in) — about 1/3 of a full cord.