Firewood Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cord of wood?

A full cord is a stack 4 feet high × 4 feet deep × 8 feet long = 128 cubic feet of stacked wood (including air gaps between logs). It is the standard legal unit for selling firewood in most US states — if a seller quotes you anything else, ask how many cubic feet you are actually getting.

What is a face cord of wood?

A face cord (also called a rick) is one row of a full cord: 4 feet high × 8 feet long × the length of the logs (usually 16 inches) = about 42.7 cubic feet, or exactly one-third of a full cord. Face cords are common for small orders — but always confirm the log length, because a "face cord" of 24-inch logs is half a cord, not a third.

How much is a cord of wood?

Typically $150–$400 per full cord, depending on species, seasoning, and region — hardwood (oak, maple, hickory) costs more than softwood (pine, fir). Split, seasoned, and delivered wood costs more than green or pickup-only wood. A face cord runs roughly one-third of the full-cord price.

How much firewood do I need for winter?

As a rule of thumb, a 1,500 sq ft home in a cold climate heated primarily with wood burns about 4–5 cords per winter; the same home in a moderate climate burns 2–4 cords, and a mild climate 1–2 cords. Wood as supplemental heat cuts that roughly in half. This calculator adjusts for your home size, climate, and heating role.

Seasoned vs green firewood — does it matter?

Yes, a lot. Seasoned (dried 6–12 months, under 20% moisture) burns hotter, cleaner, and with far less creosote — the tar that causes chimney fires. Green wood wastes energy boiling off water and can produce half the heat per log. Always buy seasoned wood, and stack it off the ground with airflow.

How long does a cord of firewood last?

It depends on how much you burn. A household heating primarily with wood in a cold climate can go through a cord in 3–5 weeks of steady burning. The same cord used for occasional weekend fires might last all winter.

Is this firewood calculator free?

Yes — completely free, no signup, no downloads. It runs 100% in your browser, so your answers never leave your device.

How much does a cord of firewood weigh?

It depends on species and moisture. A seasoned hardwood cord typically weighs 3,000–4,000 lbs; a green (fresh-cut) hardwood cord can top 5,000 lbs. Seasoned softwood is lighter at roughly 2,500 lbs per cord. That is why sellers price by volume (cords), not weight — weight swings wildly with water content.

What are the dimensions of a half cord of wood?

A half cord is a stack 4 feet high × 4 feet deep × 4 feet long = 64 cubic feet — exactly half of a full cord's 128 cubic feet. A half cord of seasoned hardwood weighs roughly 1,500–2,000 lbs.

How many pieces of wood are in a cord?

Roughly 600–800 splits for standard 16-inch firewood, depending on how thick the splits are. Smaller splits mean more pieces per cord; chunky 6-inch splits mean fewer. Count pieces only as a rough check — the cord itself is defined by stacked volume (128 cubic feet), not piece count.

What is the best firewood to burn?

By heat output, dense hardwoods win: oak, hickory, and maple deliver 19–29 million BTU per cord and burn long with steady coals. Birch and ash are solid all-rounders. Elm burns fine but is notoriously hard to split. Pine and fir are fine for kindling and shoulder-season fires but produce less heat per cord and more creosote, so do not use them as your main winter wood. Whatever the species, burn only seasoned wood (under 20% moisture).

Firewood BTU chart (approximate, per full cord, seasoned)

Heat output varies by species and moisture. Hardwoods generally deliver 19–29 million BTU per cord; softwoods 14–18 million.