Convert a stacked firewood pile’s volume into cords, the standard firewood measurement.
How it works
A cord is defined as a stack measuring 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft, or 128 cubic feet. So cords = stacked volume ÷ 128. A pile of 256 cubic feet is 2 cords.
What this does not include
This measures stacked volume, which includes air gaps between logs — it isn’t the same as the solid wood volume, which is typically 60-70% of the stacked volume depending on how tightly the wood is stacked.
How to use this calculator
- Measure your stacked pile’s length, width, and height, and multiply them to find the volume in cubic feet.
- Enter that volume.
A worked example
256 cubic feet of stacked wood: 2 cords — a standard cord is 128 cubic feet (4×4×8 ft).
64 cubic feet: 0.5 cords, or half a cord.
What the variables mean
| Variable | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Volume | Stacked wood volume, in cubic feet |
Edge cases worth knowing
A “cord” is a standardized measure (128 cubic feet, typically a 4×4×8 foot stack), not an informal estimate. This standardization exists specifically so firewood buyers can compare quantities across sellers.
A “face cord” is a different, smaller unit — often just one row of the 4×8 foot face at whatever length the logs are cut, rather than a full 4-foot-deep stack — a common source of confusion when comparing firewood prices.
Why is a cord’s specific size (4×4×8 ft) the standard?
It’s a traditionally convenient size for a single stacked row of split logs about 16 inches long stacked 4 feet high and 8 feet long — a size that’s persisted as the standard measure for firewood sales in the US.
What’s a “face cord”?
A smaller, less standardized unit — typically a stack 4 ft high, 8 ft long, but only as deep as a single log length (often 16 inches), roughly a third of a full cord.
How many cords does a typical household use per winter?
It varies enormously by climate, home size, and whether wood is the primary or supplemental heat source — anywhere from 2 to 3 cords for occasional use up to 5+ for full-time wood heat in a cold climate.
