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.
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
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.
