A cord of firewood is 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood, dimensions 4 feet wide x 4 feet tall x 8 feet long. A face cord (also called a rick) is one-third of that: 4 ft x 8 ft x 16 inches deep (the length of one log). Most confusion in firewood pricing comes from confusing these two.
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Why we publish cubic footage on every product: a full cord is the legal standard at 128 cu ft stacked - a seller who will not put cubic feet in writing can shortchange you. Ours, in writing:
- True 1/4 cord = 32 cu ft - $399, palletized, free Northeast delivery
- True 1/2 cord = 64 cu ft - $749, palletized, free Northeast delivery
- Premium Box = 1.33 cu ft - $39.60 (try the quality first)
Not sure how much you need? Use the 2-minute calculator.
The 3 measurements explained
Full cord (the legal standard)
- Size: 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft = 128 cubic feet stacked
- Weight (dry hardwood): approximately 3,600 to 4,400 lb depending on species
- Number of pieces: roughly 600 to 800 splits at 16" length
- Burn time: 12 to 16 weeks of evening fireplace use (5 fires/week)
A "full cord" is the only firewood measurement defined by US federal and state law. Selling firewood without listing the cord measurement (or using a non-standard term) is illegal in most states.
Face cord (also called a rick or rank)
- Size: 4 ft x 8 ft x 16 inches deep (or whatever your log length is)
- = 1/3 of a full cord when logs are cut to 16 inches (standard fireplace length)
- Weight: approximately 1,200 to 1,500 lb dry hardwood
- Pieces: 200 to 270 splits
- Burn time: 4 to 5 weeks of evening fires
The face cord is the most common "consumer" unit because a full cord (4 ft deep) is too deep to stack against most garages or in residential side yards. A face cord is only 16 inches deep.
Rick (regional, equals face cord)
"Rick" is a regional term in the Ohio Valley, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Mid-South. It typically equals a face cord (4 x 8 x 16 inches). Some old-time sellers use "rick" loosely to mean "whatever fits on the truck bed", which is a red flag. Always confirm dimensions.
Quick conversion table
| Unit | Dimensions | Cubic ft | Cord equivalent | Heating season equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 x 4 x 8 ft | 128 | 1 cord | ~ 3 months daily fires |
| Face cord (16" logs) | 4 x 8 x 16 in | ~ 42.7 | 1/3 cord | ~ 5 weeks |
| Half cord | 4 x 4 x 4 ft | 64 | 1/2 cord | ~ 6 weeks |
| Quarter cord | 4 x 2 x 4 ft | 32 | 1/4 cord | ~ 3 weeks |
| 1.75 cu ft Mega Bag | 1.75 cu ft | 1.75 | 1/73 cord | ~ 5 to 8 fires |
| 1.33 cu ft Box | 1.33 cu ft | 1.33 | 1/96 cord | ~ 4 to 6 fires |
Common pricing scams to watch for
- "Truckload". Not a legal measurement. Could be 1/4 cord on a Ford F-150 or 1 cord on a freight truck. Demand cubic feet or cord fraction.
- "Stove cord". Sometimes used to mean 1/3 cord (= face cord), sometimes 1/2 cord. Always confirm.
- "Pile" or "load". Meaningless. Walk away.
- Stacked loosely. Wood thrown into a pile takes 30% more volume than tightly stacked. A "cord pile" can hide a 0.7 cord short.
- Wet wood. Some sellers add water to increase weight billing or hide low quality. Demand kiln-dried with moisture documentation.
How much do you actually need?
Heating season firewood needs by use case:
- Weekend fireplace user (1 fire/week): 1 face cord (1/3 cord) per heating season
- Evening fireplace user (3 to 5 fires/week): 1 to 2 full cords per season
- Primary heat with wood stove: 3 to 6 full cords per season depending on insulation and climate
- Pizza oven hobbyist (1 to 2 cooks/week): 0.5 face cord per year
- Restaurant pizza or BBQ (daily): 1 to 2 full cords per month
For exact calculation, see our cord math guide.
How Firewood Flex products map to cord units
- 1.75 cu ft Mega Bag = 1/73 of a cord = 5 to 8 evening fires
- 15 Mega Bag bulk pallet = 26 cu ft = roughly 1/5 cord
- 30 Mega Bag pallet = 53 cu ft = roughly 1/2 face cord
- 1/4 Cord palletized = 32 cu ft = exactly 1/4 cord
- 1/2 Cord palletized = 64 cu ft = exactly 1/2 cord
How much does a face cord of wood weigh?
A face cord of seasoned hardwood cut to 16 inch splits weighs roughly 1,000 to 1,500 lbs. The spread comes from species density: oak and hickory sit at the top of the range, birch and soft maple at the bottom. Green, unseasoned wood weighs 30 to 50 percent more because you are paying to haul water.
| Measurement (16 inch splits, seasoned hardwood) | Volume | Approximate weight |
|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 128 cu ft | 3,000 to 4,500 lbs |
| 1/2 cord | 64 cu ft | 1,500 to 2,250 lbs |
| Face cord / rick | about 42.7 cu ft | 1,000 to 1,500 lbs |
| 1/4 cord | 32 cu ft | 750 to 1,125 lbs |
Kiln-dried wood sits at the light end of every range: under 15 percent moisture means less water and more heat per pound. It is also why a true 1/4 cord (32 cu ft, published volume) arrives on one manageable pallet instead of a loose dumped pile.
FAQ
Is a face cord the same as a rick?
Usually yes. Both refer to a stack 4 ft tall x 8 ft long x the length of one log deep (typically 16 inches = 1/3 of a full cord). "Rick" is more common in the Ohio Valley and South.
How many face cords in a full cord?
3 face cords (if logs are cut to 16 inches). The math: a full cord is 128 cu ft, a face cord at 16" depth is 42.7 cu ft, so 128 / 42.7 = 3.
How much does a cord of firewood weigh?
Dry hardwood: 3,600 to 4,400 lb. Oak is heaviest, ash and cherry are lighter. Wet (seasoned 20 to 25% moisture): add about 30% weight. Kiln-dried under 15% moisture: closer to the dry-end number.
How many Mega Bags equal a cord?
73 Mega Bags equals 1 full cord (128 cu ft / 1.75 cu ft per bag = 73.1). For a face cord, you would need approximately 24 Mega Bags.
What is a legal firewood cord in the US?
128 cubic feet of stacked wood (4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft). Established under the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) standard. Most states have their own version of the rule in their weights and measures statute.
Sources and references
- USDA APHIS Plant Pest and Disease Programs
- US EPA Burn Wise Program
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Utah State University Cooperative Extension, Heating with Wood
- US Forest Service for cord and species data
About the Firewood Flex Team
Written by the Firewood Flex operations team. We kiln-dry to USDA APHIS standard, log moisture content per batch, and ship from our Levittown, PA distribution facility with USDA APHIS phytosanitary-certified hardwood to 11 Northeast states. Founded 2025. USPTO Serial 99591611.
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