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Dimensions of a Cord of Wood
Cord of wood dimensions can be any dimension of stacked wood that will add up to 128 cubic feet. Wood that is not stacked and instead thrown into a loose pile has more air space between the spaces so it would require different measurements. This article assumes the firewood is neatly stacked.
The common dimension to get a cord of wood is 4′x4′x8 but there are many dimensions that will add up to 128 cubic feet. Examples are 2x4x16 and 1x4x32.
Using full feet for the width can be a problem since standard length for pieces of firewood is usually 16 inches. So a stack of 16″ firewood can only be 16″ wide or a multiple of 16.
In other words when stacking standard 16″ firewood the width of your dimension will be based on the number of stacks or rows.
1 stack = 16″ wide
2 stacks side by side = 32″ wide
3 stacks side by side = 48″ or 4′ wide.
The standard 4x4x8 dimension would be 3 stacks 4′ high and 8′ long.
Here are the cord of wood dimensions based on the number of stacks. These dimensions assume you have 16″ pieces stacked 4′ high.
1 stack = 16″x4′x24′
2 stacks = 32″x4′x12′
3 stacks = 4′x4′x8′
4 stacks = 64″x4′x6′
These measurements assume there is no space between the stacks. If you have space between the stacks, which a few inches of space is recommended for air circulation, these of course will have to be factored in.
Cord of wood dimensions will be different if the wood is not stacked. In a loose pile wood pieces will be more random so they will take up more space than pieces stacked together tightly. It’s hard to get an accurate measurement with a heaping pile but consider around 180 cubic feet for the cord of wood dimensions of unstacked wood.
I have a stack of firewood 16 ft. long 7 ft High and wood run between 15-16 inch long how much would I have there, also can you tell me how to figure this if I went with 15.5 inch wood thank you JOE
Hey Joe,
First thing we need to do is turn your 15.5 inches into feet. Since a foot is 12″ we can get that by dividing 15.5 by 12. That gives us 1.29 feet for the width of the stack. Now multiply height x width x depth 7×1.29×16. This gives 144.48 cubic feet. Since a cord of wood is 128 cubic feet, we take your cubic foot volume of the stack, 144.48 and divide it by 128. This gives you 1.12875 cords. I would round that off to 1.1 cords.
Hi.
my local nursery is advertising a Firewood sale…
4′ X 8′ X 18″ for $179.98
If I’m correct in my math, that’s 48 cubic feet (.375 % of a cord).
Seems a lot for apx 1/3 of a cord, Is that a good price?
Thanks
You are correct with your math. That comes out to around $530 per cord. Where are you located? The price of firewood varies depending on what part of the country you are in, I sell wood for $350 per cord where I am, and that is delivered. I would shop around, that sounds very high.
Admin
I am from New Hampshire. Most cord wood is thrown on a truck not stacked.
Is there a measurement for thrown on wood for 16″,18″ & 24″.
Thanks Joe
Hey Joe,
If the wood is thrown in the truck, just measure the dimensions of the space that the wood takes up in the truck. Figure around 180 cubic feet per cord. Multiply width x depth x height gives you cubic feet. If there are wheel wells or other things in the bed that take up space, subtract the space they take up. Divide the total volume by 180. That will give you a rough cord estimate. It is hard to get an accurate measurement with wood that is not stacked. The length of the pieces should not matter in a loose pile.
What is a fair price for a cordf of wood in 16″ pcs but not split. It is dry aged oak… I am located in Southeastern MasssachusettsWhat’s a good price based on 5 to 6 cords.
I have a f-250 with an 8ft bed. If I tightly stacked wood in the bed, how much could I expect to charge for a load? I live in western N.C., Asheville. Thanks
If you stack it to the top of the bed that would be about a half cord. You would have to check your local area for prices and it depends on what kind of wood it is and if it is dry or not.
I live in southeast Georgia and have several cords (4X4X8) of seasoned oak firewood. What is the going price for a single cord of firewood in this area? Plus, what are the dimensions of a “rick” of wood?
I am being taught to measure our woodcutters load like:
4’2= 4.17 7.9= 7.75 8
4.17x 7.75x 8= 258.54 = 2.02 cords
Am I being taught correctly? There have been ones who are very upset with me because of how the measurements are being done. but this is how the program has requested it to be done. I came on this site and noticed that it is 4 x 4 x 8 for a cord of wood. I am getting confused now. thank you.
I cut my wood in 18″ lengths. Please advise how high, wide, and long for 1 cord? Sorry, I don’t do math.
Oh, I live in Central Texas. Can you tell me how much I to charge for a cord of Hackberry firewood?
I’m I wrong? 5′x 10′x 32″ is 125 cubic feet or a shade less than 1 cord of wood.
I don’t know what you are doing with the top numbers but the bottom numbers are right in coming out to a little over 2 cords.
The information on this site is the best explanation of a cord of wood that I have found on the internet. Simple and well put together.
Thanks Admin
HEY THERE, how many cords of wood will i get in an area 16 ftx 6ftx 6ft..thank you very much..barrie
4.5 cords
I just had two standard pickup loads delivered a few weeks ago. Due to weather conditions and other issues, like Hurricane Irene, I wasn’t able to finish stacking it until this past weekend. Like someothers have stated a standard bed of a pickup is usually 4′wide x 2′high by 8′long makint this 62 cubic feet or one half a cord. The wood delivered was not stacked in the bed of the pickup but thrown happhazardly. I stacked it and upon measuring it I received approximately 96 cubic feet or 2/3 of a cord. This makes perfect sense with all of the wasted space that occurs when the wood is not stacked. I live in NE Pennsylvania and paid $150 for 2/3 of a cord. I called and complained and will receive another pickup load giving me one cord based on 3 loads. Hope this helps.
We have two rows, 21ft long, 6ft high, wood length is 16″. Can you tell me how many cords I have so I can determine how much more I need to buy?
Thank you very much!
Deb, you have 1.3125 cords – 21 * 6 * (16″/12″) = 168 / 128 (cubic feet in 1 cord)
HEY THERE, how many cords of wood will i get in a space 16 ftx 7ft x 7ft. i think i can figure out this one but would like a professional opinion..thanks again …BARRIE
Looks like 6.125 cords
HEY THERE,another question about amount of wood in these dimensions 16ft x 7ft x 6ft. every time i ask someone up here they have a different answer..thanks again..BARRIE
Hi we live in arkansas and hav wood tightly stacked in 4ft high 32ft long cut 16-18 in. We sell that cord for 125 here that sound good to you?
That does not sound good to me. Producing a cord of wood is too much work to charge only 125. I wouldn’t do it for less than double that.
Hey I have a few questions for a class I am taking that I was hoping someone could help with.
1.compute the volume, in standard cords, of the following stack of wood: 16ftx80ftx8ft
2.assume 30% is air, how many cu.ft. of solid wood in 1 cord?
3.compute the total volume and total value for the following item of lumber: 139 pieces 3in.x6in.x16ft@$228.50perMBF
4. If the volume of a log from a log rule table was found to be 35bd.ft, but volume of the boards sawn from that log totaled 42bd.ft, what is the overrun/underrun percent?
Barrie, He explained how to figure out the dimensions. 16x7x6=672
If the wood is stacked divide 672 by 128(cubic Ft of 1cord stacked)=5.25 cords.
If it is NOT stacked divine 672 by 180(cubic Ft of 1 cord unstacked)=3.73 cords.
Admin,
Just so you know. Your information is the best i found on how to figure the dimensions. Thank you for posting.
Everyone else,
Stop before you post read what is posted. Admin answered your question somewhere. And if it wasnt answered read the postings anyways and try to figure it out with out being lazy. Use your brain.
Barrie–You should have room for 5.25 cords of wood. A cord takes up 128 cu. ft. of space. Your space has 672 cu. ft. (16x7x6) /128 =5.25 cords
I live in Woodstock, NY. My neighbor charges $220.00 for a cord of 18″ wood. Stacked and delivered free within a 10 mile round trip radius.
Hey There how many cords of wood would I get in 16ft x 8ft x 6ft.
In suburban Rochester NY. I lived for over 30 years. Wood is sold by the face cord 8ftx4ft(high)x16inches long.
A full cord would be stacked 4ftx8ftx48inches or 3 logs of 16inch length. If you get more than 16inch logs you are making out. I now live in texas and they are crazy they are telling me that two stacks 4x8x16inch are a cord. They are ripping people off here and they also sell it delivered which they say means delivered unloaded and stacked. They also use a term half cord. We never used that term in NY it was always a face cord or a full cord. They said a face cord was a rick. but they don’t sell it that way. what is the going price for seasoned hardwood in the central texas area. and what dimension. I will be cutting wood with a partner and want to offer a fair price but don’t want to be taken advantage of.
I have half face cord log rack that measures 45″Wx45″Hx13″D. I want to how many of these I need to make a full cord. I don’t want to rip any off
I just finished piling up the wood that came down in the freak October snowstorm. It’s mostly small stuff – between 2 and 6 inches in diameter, cut to lenghts of approximately 18 inches. It’s piled up in a heap that is essentially the shape of a half sphere with a radius of about 4 feet. So I estimate the volume to be 134 cubic feet, or 1/2 of 4/3*Pi*R^3
i just had a cord delivered and they stacked it in a circle. the wood is 14 inches long.
the pile is 36 to 40 inches tall and the diameter averages 68 to 70 inches across. did i get a cord?
it looks small to me. please help
p.s. i live in so. cal and a mixed cord was $310 this year!
thanks
Harriet, I’d say you got short-changed big time. I’d estimate that you only got about half a cord, based on a half sphere with a radius of 3 feet.
BTW, I have to say that the inability of people to calculate simple volumes is a sad indictment of our education system.
Alan, I’d say the first part of your answer is where you should have stopped.
Adding that portion about the education system was a personal statement that you might feel strongly about, but it was unwarranted and a waste of time, let alone unkind, to post it here.
In short
you were kind in the first portion of your post,
but then turned into a kind of jerk.
2 pickup loosely loaded above the bed rails is bought a 1.2 cord delivered I would chard at least $300 -350 for type wood!Flat out it playing hard work.I’ve been cutting wood 17yrs would sell one load and haven’t to much work an money involded saw.spliter,truck GAS PRICES NOW. Mike
It would seem Alan is correct about the education system. After all the help he has offered here, it is a small allowance to afford sharing of his personal opinion.
for the most part,i don’t think this has as much to do with our education as it does with personal charachter. a lot f people would rather ask than guess and be incorrect. furthermore, a lot of people are terrified of math and problem solving. i personally found it refreshing to be reminded of math i haven’t used in 25 years and with a bit of practice, i’ll feel confident that i’m not being taken advantage of when i buy firewood.
I had just delivered a cord of wood to gentleman and he had me stack it in 2 rows. He measured it and called me and said I shorted him 11 cubic feet. The wood is cut 18″ long. I want my customers to be happy but having trouble figuring how many pieces would make 11 cubic ft. Thank you.
How many cubic feet is a 4x4x8 cord?