What does a cord of wood look like in a pile?
A cord is a neatly stacked pile of wood measuring 4 feet by 8 feet with each piece of wood 4 feet in length. A face cord has the same general measurements, but the depth of the pile is the length of the firewood logs, not 4 feet, i.e., 4 feet by 8 feet by 20 inches assuming each log is 20 inches long.
How long will a cord of wood last in a fire pit?
Firewood for home use is cut to a standard 16-inches long. A face cord will yield about 240 pieces of firewood, which typically is enough to burn one or two fires a week throughout the winter. If you buy too much firewood, keep it covered and it will still be good to use next season.
How many trees are in a cord of wood?
Small trees produce the least firewood. A large tree however with a trunk diameter of 24 inches and a height of 120 feet would produce at least 600 pcs; a half bush cord or 3 face cords of firewood, so tree size before you cut is an important consideration before you fire up the chainsaw.
How many fires are in a half cord of wood?
You can get between 60 to 80 fires from a cord of wood. One cord of wood typically consists of 240 logs.
What tree makes the best firewood?
The best-known firewoods are white and red oak trees. The wood from these oak trees is prized for its strength and density, and that density makes it one of the best at producing heat.
What wood should you not burn?
Don't burn treated, painted, or sealed wood in your fireplace. Treated/painted/sealed wood will release chemicals during burning, many of which are cancer-causing chemicals. Don't burn green/wet wood in your fireplace.
How much money is a cord of wood?
The average price for a cord of wood is $300. Most people pay between $150 and $500, but prices could go as high as $700. Prices depend on location, type of wood, and the wood's type of cut. Seasoned wood, or wood that's dry, will also cost more.
How much firewood do I need per day?
In general, you'll find that you need between 2 and 5 bundles of firewood per day for your campfire. However, you may need more wood if you plan to have a fire going for more than just a few hours each night. A roaring fire at the end of a long day of hiking is one of the most enjoyable parts of any camping trip.
Why do they call it a cord of wood?
A face cord is a 4 × 8-foot stack of pieces 1 foot long. The cord was originally devised in order to measure firewood and was so named because a line, string, or cord was used to tie the wood into a bundle.
Can you fit a cord of wood in a pickup truck?
A full cord can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Small Pickup -- 1/4 ton With or without racks this truck bed holds approximately 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood. Two load tickets required. Short Bed Pickup -- 1/2 ton With or without racks this truck bed holds approximately 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood.
How do you dry firewood quickly?
Cut it to Size - Cut your logs down to the size you'll want in your fire. Split the logs. The more exposed wood, the faster it'll dry out. Let the Air Flow - When stacking wood, make sure there's plenty of airflow around every log.
How much firewood do I need for a week?
If you use firewood for recreational fires or supplemental heating: For occasional indoor fires — say once a week or so — a half-cord of wood should be more than enough for winter. For outdoor fires about once a week, you may want to order a full cord, since wood burns faster in outdoor conditions.
What type of fire pit lasts longest?
If you are looking for something that will last you a lifetime, then stainless steel fire pits are the ideal choice for you.
How long will a half face cord of wood last?
6-10 weeks is a reasonable range, but this can vary significantly depending on the type of wood, the size of the space, the quality of the insulation, and more. If you're preparing for winter, the last thing you want to do is to underestimate the amount of wood you'll need.
How long does a face cord of firewood last?
Typically a face cord will last the season if you plan to burn 1-2 fires per week. If consumption is greater than that, work with a reputable firewood dealer to determine how much firewood to order.
How many cords of wood do I need for winter?
“The standard rule of thumb is that a 1,000-square-foot home will use three cords of wood for a season,” she says. “If your wood burning stove is super high-efficiency, or if you live in a more moderate climate, you may need less.”
How many pieces of wood are in a face cord?
A full cord of wood typically contains 600-800 pieces of split firewood, which translates into 200-275 pieces in a face cord (or rick). A cord is measured by the total volume of wood, so the number of pieces will change depending on the type of wood and how it is split.
How much does a firewood cord cost?
Type of wood (hardwoods can cost more than softwoods) Additional services charged by the seller (delivery, stacking, etc.) With that said, a common price range for a full cord of mixed firewood is $150-$250. Which means you can usually expect to pay $50-80 for a face cord (or rick).
What is the Volume of a Cord?
A cord of wood (sometimes called a full cord) is a stack of wood that has a total volume of 128 cubic feet when organized in a compact stack. The cord unit is defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US.
What is the Average Cost of a Cord of Wood?
Firewood is a big business, and millions of people around the world use firewood as their primary heat source.
How Many Face Cords in a Full Cord?
The full cord is the only official, government-recognized, unit for measuring firewood. However, most firewood sellers actually sell wood by the face cord (which is also called a rick, stove cord, or furnace cord).
How Much is A Pickup Truck of Firewood?
A small 1/4 to 1/2 ton pickup truck can haul about half a cord of firewood. Larger trucks and trucks with racks around the truckbed can haul one to two cords of wood.
What does "face cord" mean in firewood?
That means that the actual amount of firewood will depend on the size of their truck, and how they stack or pile the wood in the truck bed. This is usually just out of convenience, ...
How Much Firewood is in a Cord?
Most people in the firewood industry agree that a cord of firewood measures 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, or 128 cubic feet.
How long does a cord of firewood last?
But generally, a cord of wood can last as long as 10 weeks. So, 1-2 cords may be enough to get you through the winter.
How is Firewood Measured?
The standard way to measure firewood is by volume, meaning length multiplied by width multiplied by height. So, you will usually see the measurements formatted in one of two ways: Companies will either list the length, width and height of their stacks, or they will give the full volume in cubic feet (or meters, if you’re in Canada).
What is a running cord?
Running Cord – People use this phrase to describe a full cord of firewood with all pieces stacked parallel to each other.
What is a face cord?
A helpful way to think about it is to think of a full cord of firewood as a person’s head. A face cord is like the portion of your head you would consider the face.
What is the difference between a face cord and a full cord?
Typically, it will be 1/3 the size of a cord. A face cord shares the 4-foot height and 8-foot length with the full cord. The difference is the width.
How many pieces of wood are in a bundle?
A typical bundle will contain 4-6 pieces of firewood. So, the total volume of wood you’ll receive will be somewhere between 0.75-1 cubic feet of wood.
How many pieces of wood are in a face cord?
To make an estimate, a face cord is made up of 220 – 240 pieces of wood. A full cord can have around 700 pieces of wood because this is about three times the size of a face cord. But there is never a set number of pieces of wood in a cord.
How long does a firewood face cord last?
But if firewood is just your secondary heat or cooking source then a single face cord may be enough to last you for a year. You might also consider a storage area specifically for storing firewood. You can start purchasing two or three face cords to season these all winter long.
Why is firewood important?
Firewood is a very important heat source not just in rural areas but also in the suburbs. It is used in homes in fireplaces, heaters, wood burning stoves and in ovens. It is also used in small commercial establishments like restaurants to cook, bake and grill food. And because of the continuing demand for wood, it’s now becoming harder to find quality firewood dealers. As a consumer, you must understand the basic terminologies of buying wood to be able to get the best value for your money.
What is the official measurement of firewood?
The cord is the official measurement of firewood, therefore, you have no choice but to buy wood this way. The price of the firewood is also calculated by a cord, therefore, its best to purchase wood by full or face cords to get a precise value or price. You might encounter firewood dealers selling wood by truckloads or station wagon loads ...
Can you buy a cord of wood?
Wood is sold by cords. You can buy a face cord or a full cord depending on your needs. A single cord contains a lot of wood, therefore if this is your first time to buy wood, you might want to know how many pieces of wood there is in a cord. A cord may have a lot of wood, too much for you to store or use in just one season or it may not be enough ...
Can you store cords in one season?
A cord may have a lot of wood, too much for you to store or use in just one season or it may not be enough for a large home or family. Since cord refers to volume and not quantity, the number of pieces of wood in one cord can vary according to how each piece was cut. It will also depend on what kind of wood was felled and cut.
Can you use green wood for firewood?
Never use green wood or fresh firewood since these may not burn well. These may also burn creosote which can cause harmful ash and tar to release in the air. When your stack of well-dried, well-seasoned wood is ready, you may now start calculating the amount of wood you actually use per season.
How to measure firewood cords?
This article assumes the firewood is neatly stacked. To measure a stack of wood, get the height, width and depth in feet. Multiply these three numbers together. This will tell you how many cubic feet you have. Since a cord is 128 cubic feet, divide the number of cubic feet in your stack by 128. That will tell you how many cords you have.
What is the legal measurement for firewood?
There are several common measurements for firewood used in the USA. The only official measurement, and in many areas the only legal measurement is a cord . There is a huge difference between a full cord of wood and other types of cords, like a face cord, a rick and a fireplace cord.
How much space does a loose pile of wood take up?
It’s hard to get an accurate measurement with a heaping pile, consider around 180 cubic feet for the cord of wood dimensions of unstacked wood.
How wide is a stack of firewood?
Using full feet for the width can be a problem since standard length for pieces of firewood is usually 16 inches. So a stack of 16″ firewood can only be 16″ wide or a multiple of 16.
Why do people crisscross wood?
Some people like to criss-cross the wood when they stack it. This can sometimes help in drying and is a way to stabilize the ends. This is fine, except for when it comes to measuring the wood, there will be more air space between the pieces, with less solid wood in a cord.
How wide is 3 stacks?
3 stacks side by side = 48″ or 4′ wide.
Is there space between cord of wood stacks?
These measurements assume there is no space between the stacks. If you have space between the stacks, which a few inches of space is recommended for air circulation, these of course will have to be factored in. Cord of wood dimensions will be different if the wood is not stacked.
What is a cord of wood? How much is a cord of wood?
OK, so what is a cord of wood, exactly? It's a unit of volume that is used to measure the amount of firewood and pulpwood in a stack of uniform lengths, with minimum gaps between the logs. One full cord is 8 feet (2.44 m) long, by 4 feet (1.22 m) wide, by 4 feet (1.22 m) high. These dimensions gives a total volume of 128 cubic feet (3.62 m³).
How long is a cord of wood?
One full cord is 8 feet (2.44 m) long, by 4 feet (1.22 m) wide, by 4 feet (1.22 m) high.
What is a face cord of wood?
If the stack consists of standard 16 inch long logs, and the stack is only one log deep, we call it a face cord of wood. So a face cord is 8 feet (2.44 m) long , 16 inches (40.6 cm) deep, and 4 feet (1.22 m) high, which is about the amount you'd see stacked up against a log cabin, ready for a long winter. A face cord is one third the amount of wood in a full cord.
How wide is a face cord?
The formula for a face cord of firewood is very similar to the cord formula, except the width is fixed to 16 inches (1 ⅓ feet):
Where did the word "cord" come from?
The name "cord" probably derives from the piece of cord or string that was used to measure stacks of logs.
How much does a cord of wood cost?
The average cost for a cord of wood varies depending on the species and quality of the wood, the time of year, and where you live. In the southern U.S., a cord of hardwood might cost $150 to $200 in the spring and summer and $250 to $300 in the winter. Prices in northern states could range from $300 to $400, depending on supply and the season.
How big is a cord?
A cord is defined as a pile of wood 4 feet tall, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet wide. This corresponds to a volume of 128 cubic feet (including the small gaps of space between the pieces of firewood). In order to qualify as a true cord, the firewood must be neatly stacked with minimal gaps between the logs.
How long does a catalytic stove burn?
When on higher settings, the burn time is approximately 8 to 12 hours. With such high efficiency in the catalytic stove models, it is possible for a cord of wood to last an entire season. One downside of catalytic stoves is that they require some maintenance of the catalyst.
How does crisscrossing affect the burn time of logs?
The configuration of logs also affects how quickly the wood will burn. Crisscrossing the wood "log cabin" style is less efficient and will make the logs burn faster because it creates a chimney effect. One way to achieve a longer burn time is to build a top-down fire like the one below:
What to know when buying firewood?
When you are comparing prices and buying firewood, make sure that you know exactly what the dealer means when they say "cord". Not only should you clarify the quantity of wood that you are buying, but you should also make sure that the width of the logs will fit in your fireplace or stove— unless you are willing to go to the extra work of cutting it.
Why are woods more desirable?
Wood varieties with mid to high density (hardwoods) are more desirable because they burn slower and create less smoke. Some examples of hardwood include:
What is the advantage of buying wood by cord?
One of the main advantages of buying wood by the cord is being able to calculate the amount of heat the wood will produce when it burns. The heat produced is measured in MMBtu, which is the same unit used for selling quantities of natural gas.
How many stacks of firewood are in a face cord?
Depending on the seller, a face cord of firewood can also be sold as having the same volume of firewood as a full cord, meaning that there would be three stacks of 16” long logs to complete the full cord. You may also find that the length of the logs in a face cord of firewood can vary between 16 inches and 18 inches.
What Is A Full Cord Of Firewood?
A full cord of firewood is a cord of firewood in which the length of the logs fill the full 4’ of space, meaning that a full cord of firewood will have only one stack of logs.
What Is A Rick Of Firewood?
A rick of firewood is another name given to a face cord of firewood, meaning that a rick of firewood will typically measure 4’ high by 8’ wide by 16” deep.
How Many Face Cords Are There In A Full Cord Of Wood?
There are typically 3 face cords in a full cord of wood. A face cord of wood can have a depth of 16 inches for which 3 rows can fit into a full cord of wood that has a depth of 4 feet.
How Many Rick’s Are There In A Cord Of Wood?
You’ll typically find that there are 3 Rick’s of wood in a cord of wood.
How many cubic feet is a half cord of firewood?
A half cord of firewood is half the volume of a full cord of firewood, coming to 64 cubic feet of firewood compared to 128 cubic feet found in a full cord. A half cord of firewood will therefore be a stack of firewood that fills an area 4ft high, 4ft wide and 4ft deep.
What is the difference between a full cord and a rick of firewood?
A full cord of firewood will have a stack of logs that utilizes the whole 4’ of depth, while a rick or face cord of firewood will typically have a depth of 16 inches (i.e.
How many cubic feet of wood is used to buy firewood?
By only buying or selling firewood by the recognized 128 cubic feet volume, you eliminate the guesswork and always receive the amount of wood you expect.
Why is it important to use standard cord firewood?
Anytime you buy or sell firewood it's important to use the standard cord firewood measurement because it's consistent and it's universal throughout the country. Buying firewood that's sitting in the bed of a pickup truck is confusing.
What is the difference between seasoned and loosely stacked cords of wood?
So, when you compare a stack of seasoned, split, tightly stacked cord of firewood to a green, unsplit, loosely stacked cord of wood, the seasoned cord will contain more wood than the green loo sely stacked cord.
How does cord description work?
Using the cord description takes the guess work out of firewood measurements and it insures you're either getting what you pay for, or selling the correct amount of firewood!
Why is seasoned firewood more expensive than green firewood?
Since seasoned firewood burns hotter, lights easier and creates less creosote, it costs more than green or wet firewood. You're basically paying a premium for the time needed for the firewood to dry out. Like the old saying goes.....time is money and this holds true with good quality, seasoned firewood.
How to elevate firewood off the ground?
As long as you elevate your firewood off the ground by stacking the wood on pallets, using 2x4 runners or another similar method, you won't need to worry about the wood rotting or turning punky.
What is the only official measurement of firewood?
Although we use these terms interchangeably to describe firewood, a cord of firewood is the only official measurement.
