What a cord is:
The Mathematics of it all
Height x Width x Depth ÷ 128 = Cords
An example, a stack of wood that is 2 feet wide by 2 feet high by 32 feet long will also equal equal 1 cord (2 X 2 X 32 =128). Though you will hear most of the time that a cord of wood is 4 x 4 x 8 this is an old standard when firewood was only sold in these lengths and not sold in 12,14,16,18,20,24 inches in length. It was easier for them to measure firewood this way. So with saying that Remember that when you stack out your wood if you ask for 14 to 16 inch lengths you need to stack it and measure it according to the 16 inch formula. If you get 18 to 20 inch you need to stack and measure it according to the 20 inch formula. Trying to stack it and measure it by the smaller size will make it seem like you have less wood, but when really you have the right amount. And trying to get more wood from your dealer if you are stacking it by the smaller size you will drive the price of wood up as the dealer will need to get more money for the cord to stay in business.
Measuring out a cord, A table of formulas.
| Number of Rows | Formula (Width x Height x Length) |
| 1 | 24″ x 4′ x 16 = 128 cubic feet |
| 2 | 24″ x 4′ x 8′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 1 | 20″ x 4′ x 19.2′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 2 | 20″ x 4′ x 9.6′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 1 | 18″ x 4′ x 21.33′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 2 | 18″ x 4′ x 10.66′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 1 | 16″ x 4′ x 24′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 2 | 16″ x 4′ x 12′ = 128 cubic feet |
| 3 | 16″ x 4′ x 8′ = 128 cubic feet |
Wood should only be bought by the cord, fraction of cords, or by the cubic foot.
Stacking Vs. Pile
Wood that is not stacked and instead thrown into a loose pile has more air space between the spaces so it would require different measurements or about 180 cubic feet. (please check state laws as this may differ from state to state and is ment as a blanket statment which most states accept as a loose cord.) This article assumes the firewood is neatly stacked.
A standard pickup truck full of loose firewood that “should be about a cord” is simply NOT a cord. If anything, it might be a “face cord”, which is roughly one-third of 128 cubic feet.
Different Cords
The Truck
Be careful of the type of truck that the firewood is delivered on.
Many cord wood delivery trucks will have lines clearly marked showing where a cord of wood should fall. They should have it stacked to the lines or over the lines. This will ensure that you, the customer will be getting the most for your money.
Pictured below is a Chevy 3500 with a custom roll off dump bed of 4′ High by 8′ Wide by 10′ Long.
Above is a picture of a cord of wood cut to 16 inches long, it is 3 rows stacked 4′ by 4′ by 8′.
This is an example of 190 cubic feet of wood pictured above thrown into the bed of the truck. The rear row is staked in order to ensure that there is a complete 128 cubic feet of wood in the truck.
The Picture is NOT a cord of wood!
A mason dump with the normal sides on it will not hold a full cord. The sides would have to be extended up almost 4 feet.