If you’re looking to buy a large supply of firewood for your home then you’ll probably come across what’s known as a ‘Cord’ of firewood.
A cord of firewood is a common term used to describe the size of a stack of firewood, so what is a cord of firewood?
A cord is a unit used to measure the dry volume of firewood, and the size of a cord of firewood is 4’ wide, 8’ wide and 4’ deep. A cord can also be known as a full cord of firewood or a bush cord, while a face cord of firewood can be smaller in size.
A cord of firewood can go by a number of different names and so we’ve explained what a cord of firewood is along with all the other types of cords in more detail below.
What Is A Cord Of Firewood?
Firewood can be supplied as a ‘Cord’ of firewood, which is an official measurement for the amount of firewood that can be bought.
A cord of firewood can be considered a large amount of wood. A cord of firewood will measure 4 ft. high by 8 ft. wide by 4 ft. deep, coming to a total volume of 128 cubic ft.
As firewood can come in many different shapes and sizes, a cord of firewood is a stack of logs that have been packed together as tightly as possible to provide the most amount of firewood within the defined area. As a result the majority of the volumetric area of the stack will be firewood but the remainder of the space will be the gaps between the pieces of wood.
The most important thing is that when buying a cord of firewood you’re paying for a defined size and so whatever the size of logs the total amount of firewood received will always be the same.
Buying a cord of firewood can therefore be a more suitable option for those wanting an accurate amount of wood to burn, rather than buying a generic ‘stack’ of firewood that can vary in size and volume.
The two most common ways to describe a cord of firewood are the ‘Face Cord’ and ‘Full Cord’.
What Is A Full Cord Of Firewood?
A full cord of firewood is a cord of firewood in which the length of the logs fill the full 4’ of space, meaning that a full cord of firewood will have only one stack of logs.
A full cord of firewood is essentially another term used to describe a cord of firewood. A full cord of firewood will therefore typically be 4’ high by 8’ wide by 4’ deep.
Finding a full cord of firewood on offer can be less common for household buyers because logs 4’ in length would typically be too large for the majority of fireplaces and stoves.
A full cord of firewood can also be referred to as a bush cord.
What Is A Face Cord Of Firewood?
A cord of firewood can more commonly be sold as a face cord of firewood.
A face cord of firewood is typically a stack of firewood measuring 4 ft. high by 8 ft. wide by 16 inches deep. The depth of a face cord of firewood is typically a third of the depth of a full cord of firewood.
4’ may not be a suitable size of log for the majority of homeowners, as the logs would have to be split down further to be used in a typically sized fireplace or stove.
A cord of firewood can therefore be more commonly sold as a face cord of firewood in which the length of the logs is reduced down to 16 inches rather than 4 feet. 16 inches is exactly a third of 4ft meaning that although a face cord of firewood has the same width and height, a face cord of firewood will typically be a third of the depth than that of a full cord.
Depending on the seller, a face cord of firewood can also be sold as having the same volume of firewood as a full cord, meaning that there would be three stacks of 16” long logs to complete the full cord.
You may also find that the length of the logs in a face cord of firewood can vary between 16 inches and 18 inches.
What Is A Rick Of Firewood?
A rick of firewood is another name given to a face cord of firewood, meaning that a rick of firewood will typically measure 4’ high by 8’ wide by 16” deep.
A full cord, face cord and rick of firewood all typically have the same size frontage of the stack of logs, measuring 8’ wide by 4’ high.
As a rick of firewood is another term used to describe a face cord of firewood, the main difference between a rick or face cord of firewood and a full cord is the depth.
A full cord of firewood will have a stack of logs that utilizes the whole 4’ of depth, while a rick or face cord of firewood will typically have a depth of 16 inches (i.e. one third of the depth of a full cord).
Logs are more commonly cut down to 16 inches in length so that they can be burnt in a typical home fireplace or stove. A rick of firewood or a face cord of firewood can therefore be more suitable for the average homeowner compared to a full cord of firewood.
Cord Of Firewood
Cord Of Firewood Size
A cord of firewood measures 4’ high, 8’ wide and 4’ deep.
What Is A Half Cord Of Firewood?
A half cord of firewood is half the volume of a full cord of firewood, coming to 64 cubic feet of firewood compared to 128 cubic feet found in a full cord. A half cord of firewood will therefore be a stack of firewood that fills an area 4ft high, 4ft wide and 4ft deep.
What Is A Bush Cord Of Firewood?
A bush cord of firewood is another term used to describe a full cord of firewood, meaning that a bush cord of firewood has a volume of 128 cubic feet with the dimensions of 4ft high, 8ft wide and 4ft deep.
Cord Of Firewood Weight
A full cord of firewood can weigh up to 5000 pounds.
The exact weight of a cord of firewood can be influenced by:
- The moisture content of the wood. Higher moisture content firewood will be heavier than lower moisture content firewood.
- The type of wood. Hardwoods can be denser then softwoods meaning that they can be heavier as a result.
- How tightly packed together the logs in the stack are. The more tightly packed together the logs are the heavier the cord of firewood can be.
Cord Of Firewood Price
The cost of a cord of firewood will vary between seller and location, but the cost can also be influenced by:
- The type of wood. Hardwoods can be more expensive to buy than softwoods because they can take longer to dry out.
- What method the wood has been dried. Kiln dried firewood uses a more involved and costly process compared to seasoned firewood.
- The quality of the wood. Clean and well-cut firewood can demand a higher price.
- The moisture content of the wood. Lower moisture values are more beneficial for firewood but it can take longer for the wood to reach lower moisture levels. This extra amount of time can be reflected in the price.
How Many Face Cords Are There In A Full Cord Of Wood?
There are typically 3 face cords in a full cord of wood. A face cord of wood can have a depth of 16 inches for which 3 rows can fit into a full cord of wood that has a depth of 4 feet.
How Many Rick’s Are There In A Cord Of Wood?
You’ll typically find that there are 3 Rick’s of wood in a cord of wood.
How Long Does A Cord Of Firewood Last?
A cord of firewood can typically last 6 to 10 weeks but may last up to 3 months, depending on whether the wood is used as the main source of heat for a home, how large of area needs to be heated and how often the fireplace or stove is used.
Further Reading
How To Stack Firewood For Seasoning