Cord of Wood Calculator
Calculate the cords of wood in an irregular or rectangular woodpile with stacked cord standards.
= 1 Face Cords (Ricks)
Did this calculation save you time?
Student ProjectHi! I'm a student developer building Calculat in my spare time. I was tired of searching for basic math tools and having to click through 10 spammy popups, loan ads, and cookie trackers.
I keep this website 100% free, private, and ad-free. If this helped you with your homework, project, or finances today, bookmarking this page or telling a friend helps me keep building more free tools!
What Is a Cord of Wood Calculator?
A cord of wood calculator verifies woodpile volume against official National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) legal firewood definitions. It translates length, height, and depth into cords and ricks.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter stack length and stack height in feet.
- Enter piece length in inches (standard wood stove size is 16").
- View the exact decimal cords of wood.
- Check face cord equivalents and total cubic volume.
NIST Cord Formula
\text{Cords} = \frac{L \times H \times (D / 12)}{128}Dividing total stack volume in cubic feet by 128 yields legal cords.
Worked Example
Scenario: A woodpile measuring 24 feet long, 4 feet high, with 16-inch split logs.
Cubic feet: 24 × 4 × (16/12) = 128 cu ft.
Cords: 128 ÷ 128 = exactly 1.0 Full Cord.
Face cords: 3 face cords.
Tips & Key Notes
- A full cord of wood contains approximately 85 cubic feet of solid wood, with the remaining 43 cubic feet being air space between split logs.
- Logs should dry for a minimum of 6 to 12 months until internal moisture is below 20%.
- Use a moisture meter to test a fresh split face before burning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a rick the same as a cord of wood?
No. A rick (or face cord) is only one single log row deep (4ft high by 8ft long by 16" deep = ~43 cu ft), which is one-third of a full cord (128 cu ft).
Can you fit a full cord of wood in an 8-foot pickup truck bed?
Not in a standard level bed. An 8-foot pickup bed filled level to the rails holds about 75 cubic feet (~0.6 cord). To haul a full cord (128 cu ft), you need high wooden stake sideboards and careful stacking.
What is green cord wood?
Green cord wood is wood freshly harvested from living trees with high moisture content (45–60%). It produces creosote and chimney smoke and should be seasoned before burning.
How many cords does an average home burn each winter?
A home heated primarily with a modern wood stove typically burns 3 to 6 full cords per heating season, depending on climate and home insulation.
Related Calculators
Explore similar toolsCord Wood Calculator
Calculate full cords, face cords (ricks), cubic feet, and weight of stacked firewood logs.
Firewood Cord Calculator
Calculate seasoned vs green firewood weight, million BTU heat content, and heating oil equivalents for cords of firewood.
Loose Cord Wood Calculator
Convert thrown/loose cubic feet of firewood into true stacked cords and calculate pickup truck bed capacities.