What Is a Cord of Firewood, and How Should You Properly Store It?
If you’ve ever used a wood-burning appliance before or are looking to start, you probably want to know how much firewood you should buy. While the term ‘a cord’ may be thrown around a lot, it’s important to understand what that means so you don’t end up overspending or running out of wood on a cold night.
Read on to learn more about how firewood is measured, and some easy storage solutions.
What is a cord?
To put it simply, a full cord is a standard unit used to measure firewood. Typically, a cord includes 600 to 800 logs, equalling to 128 cubic feet of firewood. To get an accurate measurement, the firewood is stacked tightly together in three stacks that measure a total of 4 feet wide, 4 feet high, and 8 feet long.
While this is the standard size of an American cord, the exact measurements can change a bit between states. Always make sure to double check in your area before you buy!
Other firewood measurements you should know
A cord is typically the largest measurement size used by firewood companies, but most people probably don’t need to order a full cord. There are other cord-based measurements you should know for smaller amounts of wood. Measurement like a half-cord are pretty self-explanatory, but if you want to sound like you really know your stuff, learn the following standard cord-based measurements:
Running Cords: The same amount of wood as a full cord, the wood just hasn’t been condensed and divided into three stacks, so it is still in a single row.
Face Cords: Approximately ⅓ of a cord, or a single one of a full cord’s three rows. Also called a ‘rick,’ by some people.
Sheldon Cords: Any cord bigger than a full cord (over 128 cubic feet of firewood), with no upper limit. Sheldon cords are hard to find and can be hard to store, so many stick to buying smaller cords instead.
Stove Cords: A face cord (⅓ of a cord), whose logs are a foot long. It gets its name from the fact that 12-inch pieces of wood are small enough to fit inside of stoves, in comparison to the 16-inch pieces that cords are typically cut into.
How much firewood should you buy?
Now that you know how to order firewood like a pro, you need to figure out how much you actually need. For most residential customers, it’s unlikely that you will ever need to buy a full cord, unless you plan to heat your entire home only using a fireplace. Even then, a full cord will last you a long time and you’ll need somewhere to store the extra wood (more on that later).
If you only want enough firewood for a special occasion like a bonfire or a camping trip, we recommend buying firewood by the bundle. Fires typically burn under one bundle of wood per hour, so just think about how many hours you plan on keeping the fire burning and buy that many bundles.
Storing firewood
No matter how much firewood you choose to buy, the best practices for storing it are the same. First, you want to avoid mold growth on your firewood by storing it in the least humid place possible and stacking it on raised palettes or bricks off of the ground. When picking where to store it, look for somewhere with plenty of space for ventilation to prevent rot. Protect your firewood from rain or snow by covering it with a tarp when storing it outdoors. If you plan to use firewood regularly, consider building your own firewood shelter or rack to make storage so much easier.
You should be storing your firewood outside, and only keeping enough to last one or two days inside. Keeping firewood inside your home can create excess humidity and bring in unwanted pests and dirt. If you only plan on storing firewood inside, consider buying kiln-dried firewood instead.
FAQs
Now that you know all about cords of firewood, you're ready to place your first order and explore the world of wood-burning heating. Here are the answers to some common questions you may still have to help you get started:
How much does a cord of firewood cost?
Typically, a cord of firewood in the United Staes costs around $300, but can be much higher or lower depending on the supplier and the kind of wood.
What is a truckload of firewood?
A truckload is not a specific term used to measure firewood, although you may hear it from time to time. While 'a truckload' depends on the size of the bed of a pickup truck, a cord of wood is typically too big and heavy to fit. If a vendor tries to sell you a truckload, make sure to ask for specific dimensions or measurements.
What firewood should I burn first?
Always use the oldest firewood you have in your stack first so that it doesn't rot and it has the time to dry. Try stacking your oldest firewood on top so it doesn't get buried and forgotten.