Cord of Wood Calculator
Calculate how many cords a stack of firewood contains from its length, width (depth), and height, using the standard 128 cubic foot cord.
How this calculator works
Firewood is bought and sold by the cord, a standard stacked volume of 128 cubic feet — the equivalent of a stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep, and 8 ft long. To find out how many cords a stack contains, multiply its length, width (depth), and height in feet to get its volume, then divide by 128.
Formula: A standard cord is 128 cubic feet (a stack 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft). Cords = (stack length × width × height) ÷ 128.
Worked example
A stack 8 ft long, 4 ft deep, and 4 ft high:
- Volume = 8 × 4 × 4 = 128 cu ft
- Cords = 128 ÷ 128 = 1.0 cord
Notes
A “face cord” (also called a rick) is only as deep as the log length — often 16 in — which makes it just a fraction of a full cord. Don’t confuse the two terms when buying or selling firewood, since a face cord priced like a full cord is a significant overpay.
Always measure a stack’s true depth rather than judging by its face alone. A shallow stack can look similar to a full cord from the front while containing much less wood.
How to use
Measure your stack’s length, depth, and height in feet, then enter all three. The calculator multiplies them into a total volume and divides by 128 cubic feet to tell you how many standard cords the stack contains.
Stacked wood volume includes air gaps between logs, so this is a standard industry approximation, not an exact solid-wood volume.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly counts as a standard cord?
A standard cord is a stack of wood measuring 4 ft high by 4 ft deep by 8 ft long, for a total of 128 cubic feet. That volume figure is the industry standard used to price and measure firewood, regardless of how the individual logs happen to be stacked or cut.
Why do I need to measure the stack's depth, not just its face?
The face of a stack only shows its length and height — depth is how far the logs extend back, which is usually set by log length. Skipping the depth measurement and assuming a full 4 ft depth is one of the most common ways buyers overpay, since many stacks are stacked shallower than a true cord.
What's a face cord, and is it the same as a full cord?
A face cord (also called a rick) is only as deep as the log length, often 16 in instead of the full 4 ft. Because the depth is smaller, a face cord contains only a fraction of the wood in a standard cord, so the two terms should never be used interchangeably when buying or selling firewood.
Does this calculator account for air gaps between logs?
No — it measures the total stacked volume of the pile as a rectangular box, which includes the gaps between individual logs along with the wood itself. This matches how firewood is conventionally measured and sold, since a cord has always referred to stacked volume rather than solid wood volume.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.