๐ชต Firewood Cord Calculator
A standard cord is 4ft x 4ft x 8ft = 128 cubic feet.
Enter the length, width, and height of a stacked woodpile in feet to convert it into cords, the standard US/Canadian unit for measuring firewood. One cord is defined as 4ft x 4ft x 8ft, or 128 cubic feet.
How to use
- Enter the depth of the woodpile in feet.
- Enter the width of the woodpile in feet.
- Enter the height of the woodpile in feet.
- The number of cords and total volume in cubic feet are calculated automatically.
How the calculation works
From the depth, width and height of a stack of firewood in feet, calculate how many cords it is, the unit used for firewood in North America. 1 cord = 4 ft ร 4 ft ร 8 ft = 128 cubic feet (about 3.62 mยณ) Cords = depth ร width ร height รท 128 Firewood in North America and instructions for many imported wood stoves use cords, so this helps when comparing with other units.
Worked example
4 ft deep, 8 ft wide, 4 ft high โ 128 cubic feet = 1 cord 2 ft deep, 8 ft wide, 4 ft high โ 64 cubic feet = 0.5 cord 1 foot is 30.48 cm (4 ft โ 1.22 m, 8 ft โ 2.44 m).
Things to be aware of
- Stacked wood has gaps, so the solid wood in a cord is said to be only about 60โ70% of its volume.
- A โface cordโ is an informal unit only one log length deep, about a third of the full cord used here.
- Well-seasoned wood (moisture content below about 20%) burns better with less smoke.
FAQ
What is a cord?
A cord is a unit of volume used for firewood in the United States and Canada, defined as a stack measuring 4ft x 4ft x 8ft, or 128 cubic feet (about 3.62 cubic meters).
What's the difference from a "face cord"?
A face cord is an informal unit whose depth is only the length of a single piece of firewood (typically 12-16 inches), often around a third of a full cord but varying with wood length. This tool calculates based on the standard 128-cubic-foot full cord.
Is this different from how firewood is measured elsewhere?
Yes. Many countries measure firewood by volume in cubic meters (steres) or other local units. The cord is specific to the US and Canada, useful when referencing North American wood stove or fireplace documentation.