Cord of Wood Calculator

A standard cord of wood represents a specific volume measurement established for legal and commercial firewood sales. Mathematically, one full cord occupies a total space of 128 cubic feet, typically measured as a stack 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet wide. To find the total volume in cords, our calculator multiplies the length, height, and width of your wood pile in feet to find the cubic volume, then divides that result by 128. For alternative measurements like face cords—which share the same 8-foot length and 4-foot height but feature a shorter log width—the calculator adjusts the divisor accordingly to reflect accurate fractional portions of a full cord.

Imagine you order a stack of firewood that measures 16 feet long, 4 feet high, and 2 feet wide. First, compute the total cubic volume by multiplying these dimensions together: 16 ft x 4 ft x 2 ft = 128 cubic feet. Next, divide this total volume by the standard cord volume of 128 cubic feet, which yields exactly 1.0 full cord of wood. If the supplier charges $300 per cord, your total cost calculation uses the standard pricing formula to confirm the price matches the exact volume delivered. This step-by-step approach ensures transparency and accuracy for every transaction.

When stacking your firewood for measurement, always pack the logs as tightly as possible to minimize empty air gaps, which can artificially inflate your volume estimate. Keep in mind that a loose stack contains significantly less solid wood than a tightly packed one. Additionally, measure your pile's dimensions in multiple spots if the ground is uneven to maintain consistent averages for height and length.