How Much Wood You’re Getting in a Cord of Wood?

If you have ever tried to buy firewood in large amounts from a retailer, or read articles about how much wood to store for winter heating needs, then there is a good chance you will have heard of the term “a cord of wood”. But what is a cord of wood?

A Cord of Wood is a Measurement Unit

To put it simply a cord of wood is a volumetric measurement for a stock pile of wood. Most seller’s when selling a large amount of wood, often for firewood, will sell it in cords. A cord is approximately 128 cubic feet of wood in a 4 ft. high, 8 ft. wide, and 4 ft. deep stack. Although it is important to note that a cord is not as regularly standardized as some other measurements, like a cubic foot which is always the same. So double check to see if the individual or company offering the cord has a different interpretation of the measurement.

Different Types of “Cord”

Full Cord:

4ft. high by 8ft. wide by 4ft. deep, 128 cubic foot.

Face Cord:

4ft. high by 8ft. wide by 4ft. deep, 128 cubic foot.

A green cord is a full cord, but as you may have guessed, made up of wood that has not yet been dried fully. Because of this the cord will shrink down to a smaller size as it dries up, so be aware of buying a green cord. 

Thrown Cord:

A thrown cord is a cord of wood not in a stack, usually in a rough pile. This is a term frequently used when transporting wood in the back of a truck, or when temporarily storing it in a pile. The measurement for a thrown cord is purely volumetric, and is 180 cubic feet. The idea is that when you stack a thrown cord into a proper stack it will yield a full cord. 

How Much Usable Material Can be Stored in a Cord?

If you are planning on buying or accumulating a cord of wood to use as firewood note that the type of wood (hardwood or softwood) will have an impact on the amount of fuel/heat you can squeeze out of a cord. Hardwood, which is slower during and denser, will generate more heat per cord than softwood, so keep that in mind. You can check out my article here for more information on the type of wood you should choose for your fire. 

The Tighter you Pack, the more you Stack

As a final note on cords, it should be mentioned that how tightly and efficiently a cord of wood is stacked will affect how much wood can be stored in a cord. A cord is volumetric, which means it is a measurement of the physical space that a material requires in the real world. The more wood you an squeeze into the space of a cord through efficient cutting and stacking the more useable material you will be able to store in that space; it’s just common sense.

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