How Much Wood Can a Woodman Chuck?

As the days get shorter and the stores get a jumpstart on holiday decorations, you might want to think about getting your firewood delivered. Buying firewood can be confusing since the official measurement is a cord –- and no one seems very clear on how much a cord actually is. Here’s a rundown of your options, which should help you figure out how much wood you need to order.

A full cord is a lot of wood. It used to be measured with a rope or cord, hence the name, though last time I checked ropes came in all sorts of lengths. Maybe in the olden days there was only one size.

If you buy a full cord of wood you’ll get 128 cubic feet, which, when stacked, will measure 4 feet high by 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. The average size of a piece of firewood is 16 inches, so a full cord will have three rows of logs along the eight foot length of the cord. Firewood for the home is most often sold as a face cord, which is a third of a full cord. And that's still a lot of wood.

Confused? The key words to remember are full cord and face cord. Ask your supplier to tell you what type of cord he sells so that you know what you’re getting. And please remember to have your chimney swept before every fire season -- and never, ever burn pine in a home fireplace. You could end up with dangerous creosote lining your chimney flue.

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