You're standing in your driveway, looking at a heap of oak and maple that just got dumped off the back of a rusted pickup truck. The driver says it's a cord. You look at the pile, then at your wallet, and you wonder if you just got taken for a ride. Most people think a cord is just a "big pile," but there is a very specific, legally defined answer to how many cubic feet in cord of firewood, and if you don't know it, you’re basically guessing with your money.
A standard cord is 128 cubic feet.
That sounds simple. It’s not.
Actually, the physics of wood stacking makes that 128 number a bit of a moving target. You aren't just buying wood; you're buying the air between the logs, too. If the wood is crooked, knotty, or tossed into the truck like a giant game of pickup sticks, you might be getting significantly less actual fuel than you think.
The Math of a Standard Cord
To visualize this, imagine a neatly stacked pile that is 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. If you multiply $4 \times 4 \times 8$, you get exactly 128 cubic feet. This is the "official" measurement recognized by the Weights and Measures divisions in most states across the U.S. and provinces in Canada.
But here is where it gets tricky. Unless you are buying from a high-end boutique supplier who stacks it for you, your wood arrives loose. A "loose cord" or a "thrown cord" takes up way more space than 128 cubic feet because of the air gaps. To get 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, a seller usually needs to dump about 180 cubic feet of loose wood into their truck bed.
If they show up with a standard 8-foot pickup bed filled to the rails, you aren't getting a cord. Not even close. A standard long-bed pickup usually holds about 64 cubic feet when filled level—that's a half-cord at best.
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Why the "Face Cord" is a Total Trap
You’ll often see Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace ads for a "face cord" at a fraction of the price. Don't fall for it without doing the math. A face cord is not a legal unit of measurement in many jurisdictions because it’s incredibly vague.
Basically, a face cord is a stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but the depth is only as long as the individual logs. If the logs are cut to 16 inches—which is the industry standard for most wood stoves—then a face cord is only 1/3 of a full cord. You’re getting roughly 42.6 cubic feet.
If the seller's logs are only 12 inches long, that face cord shrinks even more. Honestly, it’s a mess. When people ask how many cubic feet in cord of firewood, they are usually looking for the 128 number, but they end up buying a face cord and wondering why their woodpile is gone by Christmas.
The "Air Factor" and Actual Wood Volume
Let's get nerdy for a second. Even in a perfectly stacked 128-cubic-foot cord, you don't have 128 cubic feet of solid wood. You’ve got bark, knots, and those pesky gaps.
According to researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the actual solid wood content in a cord usually ranges from 70 to 90 cubic feet. The rest is just atmosphere. If the wood is straight-grained like ash or split pine, it stacks tightly. If it’s gnarly, twisted orchard wood or un-split "rounds," the air volume skyrockets. You're paying for the space.
It's kinda like buying a bag of potato chips. The bag looks huge, but half of it is nitrogen to keep the chips from crushing. With firewood, the "nitrogen" is just the gap where a squirrel could hide.
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Variations in Measurement Terms
- Rick: This is often regional slang for a face cord. It varies wildly. In some parts of the Midwest, a "rick" might mean anything the seller wants it to mean. Avoid this term if you want precision.
- Bush Cord: This is common in Canada and is simply another name for a full 128-cubic-foot cord.
- Running Cord: Avoid this. It’s a deceptive way to describe wood stacked without a set depth.
How to Protect Your Wallet When the Truck Arrives
If you want to make sure you're getting your 128 cubic feet, you have to measure. Most people feel awkward doing this while the delivery driver is waiting, but it’s your money.
First, ask the seller how they measure. If they say "a truckload," ask for the dimensions of the truck bed. A heavy-duty dump truck with 12-foot sides is a different beast than a Ford F-150.
Second, check the seasoning. Green wood—wood that was recently cut—is much heavier and contains up to 50% water. Not only does it burn terribly, but it also shrinks as it dries. If you buy a "tight" cord of green wood today, it might only measure 115 or 120 cubic feet by next winter because the cells in the wood collapse as moisture leaves.
The Crate Method
Some modern suppliers are moving toward "crated wood." These are wooden pallets with frames that hold exactly 1/4 or 1/2 of a cord. This is the gold standard for accuracy. If you can find a supplier who sells by the crate, take it. It eliminates the guesswork of the "loose toss" delivery.
Real-World Examples of Cord Sizing
Let’s look at how this plays out in a real backyard scenario. Suppose you have a woodshed that is 10 feet long and 6 feet deep. You want to fill it 5 feet high.
$10 \times 6 \times 5 = 300\text{ cubic feet.}$
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To fill that space, you would need to order roughly 2.34 cords. If a seller tells you "two cords will fill that right up," they are either over-delivering (unlikely) or their "cords" are small. Knowing the 128-cubic-foot rule allows you to call out the discrepancy before the wood is offloaded.
Species Density vs. Volume
While volume tells you how much space the wood takes up, it doesn't tell you how much heat you're getting. This is a common point of confusion. A cord of white pine and a cord of hickory both take up 128 cubic feet.
However, the hickory cord weighs almost twice as much and produces nearly double the BTUs (British Thermal Units).
- Hickory: ~28 million BTUs per cord.
- White Pine: ~14 million BTUs per cord.
If you're paying $400 for a cord, you want the dense stuff. Volume is only half the story. If the wood is "punky" (rotting) or extremely lightweight, you're getting 128 cubic feet of low-quality fuel. It’s like buying a gallon of gas that’s been watered down.
Legal Recourse and Standards
Most people don't realize that firewood sales are regulated by the Department of Agriculture in many states. In places like Maine or New Hampshire, firewood is a serious business. You are legally entitled to a receipt that states the species of wood, the quantity in cords (or fractions of a cord), and the name of the seller.
If you suspect you've been shorted, the law is actually on your side. You can contact your local sealer of weights and measures. They take this surprisingly seriously because firewood is a primary heating source for thousands of families.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Firewood Purchase
Stop guessing. If you want to ensure you are actually getting the 128 cubic feet you paid for, follow these steps:
- Clear a level space: Before the truck arrives, mark out an 8-foot by 4-foot area on the ground.
- Request a "Stacked" Price: Ask if the seller offers a stacking service. If they stack it, it’s much easier to put a tape measure on it immediately.
- Measure the Truck Bed: If they are dumping it loose, measure the length, width, and height of the truck's cargo area. If it’s a standard dump truck (roughly 10-12 cubic yards), a full cord should fill a significant portion of that space.
- Use the 180 Rule: If the wood is delivered loose and not stacked, it should occupy about 180 cubic feet of space. If it looks like less than that in the pile, it will almost certainly be less than 128 cubic feet once you stack it.
- Check the Moisture: Carry a $20 moisture meter. Stick it into a freshly split face of a log. If it reads over 20%, that wood isn't ready to burn, and you should negotiate the price down for the "shrinkage" that will occur as it seasons.
Understanding the math behind the woodpile transforms you from a vulnerable consumer into an informed buyer. Don't let the jargon of "ricks" and "truckloads" confuse the simple reality: 128 cubic feet is the goal. Stack it tight, measure it right, and keep your chimney clean.