Cord of Wood Calculator

A cord of wood calculator helps determine the precise amount of firewood in a stack or pile, using the standard measurement unit called a “cord.”

A cord represents a neatly stacked pile of wood measuring 128 cubic feet (3.62 cubic meters), typically arranged in dimensions of 4 feet high, 8 feet long, and 4 feet deep.

If you have a woodpile that measures 6 feet high, 12 feet long, and 4 feet deep, the calculator would determine this equals 1.5 cords of wood (288 cubic feet ÷ 128 cubic feet per cord = 1.5 cords).

Cord of Wood Calculator

Stack Dimensions (H×L×W)	Cubic Feet	Cord Amount
4’×16’×4′	256	2.0
5’×12’×4′	240	1.875
6’×8’×4′	192	1.5
4’×20’×4′	320	2.5
3’×8’×4′	96	0.75
5’×10’×3′	150	1.17
6’×10’×2.5′	150	1.17
4’×12’×3.5′	168	1.31
2’×8’×8′	128	1.0
7’×6’×3.5′	147	1.15
8’×4’×4′	128	1.0
10’×4’×3.2′	128	1.0
12’×4’×2.67′	128	1.0
15’×2.5’×3.2′	120	0.94
9’×3.5’×4.5′	126.75	0.99

Cord of Wood Calculation Formula

The formula for calculating cord volume is:

Volume in Cords = (Height × Length × Width) ÷ 128

Where:

• Height is measured in feet
• Length is measured in feet
• Width is measured in feet
• 128 represents the cubic feet in one standard cord

For a stack measuring 5 feet high, 10 feet long, and 4 feet wide:

(5 × 10 × 4) ÷ 128 = 200 ÷ 128 = 1.56 cords.

How to Calculate Cord of Wood?

To calculate a cord of wood, follow these steps:

• Measure the stack dimensions:
  • Height (in feet)
  • Length (in feet)
  • Width (in feet)
• Multiply these three measurements together to get cubic feet.
• Divide the result by 128 (cubic feet in a standard cord).

Stack dimensions: 4′ high × 16′ long × 4′ wide

Calculate cubic feet: 4 × 16 × 4 = 256 cubic feet

Convert to cords: 256 ÷ 128 = 2 cords

Is 4×8 a cord of wood?

A 4×8 measurement alone does not constitute a full cord of wood. A face cord or rick typically measures 4 feet high by 8 feet long, but the depth varies.

To be a full cord, the stack must also be 4 feet deep.

A 4'×8' stack with a 16-inch depth = 42.67 cubic feet

42.67 ÷ 128 = 0.33 cords (approximately one-third of a full cord)

Is a cord of wood 4x4x4?

No, a 4x4x4 stack equals 64 cubic feet, which is only half a cord. A standard cord must be 128 cubic feet, typically arranged as 4’×8’×4′.

4’×4’×4′ = 64 cubic feet
64 ÷ 128 = 0.5 cords

How many 16-inch logs are in a cord?

Here’s a approximation:

• For 6-inch diameter logs: approximately 240 pieces
• For 8-inch diameter logs: approximately 180 pieces
• For 12-inch diameter logs: approximately 90 pieces

The number of 16-inch logs in a cord depends on the average diameter of the logs.

Cord Volume Comparisons

Cord Amount	Cubic Feet	Typical Price Range (USD)
1/5 cord	25.6	$50 – $75
2 cords	256	$500 – $700
4 cords	512	$1,000 – $1,400
8 cords	1,024	$2,000 – $2,800

Note: Prices vary significantly by region and wood type.

References

• National Institute of Standards and Technology https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures

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