Skip to content
Calcumatix

Firewood Calculator

Measure a stacked firewood pile in cubic feet, full cords, and cubic metres while keeping full-cord and face-cord quantities distinct.

Log length, e.g. 16in = 1.33 ft.

Result

1 cords

A 4x4x8ft stack is about 1 full cords

Quick Answer

A firewood calculator multiplies stack height, depth, and length to calculate cubic feet, then divides by 128 for full cords. A 4 by 4 by 8 foot stack equals 128 cubic feet, which is 1 full cord. Multiplying 128 by 0.0283168 gives 3.62 cubic metres after rounding.

Understanding Firewood Stack Volume And Full Cords

This firewood calculator measures the outside volume of a ranked rectangular stack. Height times depth times length gives cubic feet, and division by 128 gives full cords because one firewood cord is 128 cubic feet. Multiplying cubic feet by 0.0283168 gives cubic metres, so the same measurements support both customary and metric quantity checks. A full cord includes wood, bark, and air space within the stack, while a face cord has a 4 by 8 foot face but a depth set by log length. Because face-cord depth varies, enter the actual piece length and do not assume every face cord is one-third of a full cord.

The Firewood Cord Formula And Cubic Metre Conversion

The firewood formula treats the pile as a rectangular stack. Cubic feet come from height, depth, and length. Full cords are that stack volume divided by 128, and cubic metres use the standard cubic-foot conversion.

  • Stack volume = height × depth × length.
  • Full cords = stack volume ÷ 128.
  • Cubic metres = stack volume × 0.0283168.

Firewood Calculator Steps For Stack Size And Cords

Inputs

  • Stack height: average pile height in feet.
  • Stack depth: average log length or pile depth in feet.
  • Stack length: average pile length in feet.

Steps

  1. Stack the wood in a compact row.
  2. Measure average height.
  3. Measure pile depth.
  4. Measure average length.
  5. Enter all three values.
  6. Read volume, full cords, and cubic metres.

Firewood Cord Example With Full Cubic Metre Conversion

4 ft height, 4 ft depth, and 8 ft length.

  1. Stack volume: 4 × 4 × 8 = 128 cu ft.
  2. Full cords: 128 ÷ 128 = 1 cord.
  3. Cubic metres: 128 × 0.0283168 = 3.6245504 cu m.

The stack is 128 cubic feet, 1.00 full cord, and 3.62 cubic metres. Cords and cubic metres are rounded to two decimal places.

Face Cord Example With Sixteen Inch Log Pieces Shown

For a 4 ft high by 8 ft long face stack with 16 inch pieces, depth conversion is 16 ÷ 12 = 1.333333 ft. Stack volume is about 4 × 1.333333 × 8 = 42.6667 cu ft, and the full-cord equivalent is 42.6667 ÷ 128 = 0.3333 cord.

That is about 42.67 cubic feet, or 0.33 full cord, rounded to two decimals. This one-third relationship applies to a 4 by 8 foot face with 16 inch pieces, not every face cord.

When A Firewood Stack Estimate Helps Compare Deliveries

Use the stack measurement to compare deliveries or turn a face cord into part of a full cord. Check local sale and label rules before purchase.

Stack depth is the cut piece length. Gaps and rough ends can shift the result, so stack neat rows and use average measurements. For more quantity tools, browse the construction calculators or check measurement terms in the glossary.

Assumptions

  • The pile forms one rectangular stack.
  • Average outside measurements are used.
  • Wood is ranked and reasonably well stowed.
  • One full cord equals 128 cubic feet.
  • One cubic foot equals 0.0283168 cubic metre.

Limitations

  • Loose piles need a different measurement method.
  • Gaps and crooked pieces change solid-wood content.
  • Weight and heat output vary by species and moisture.
  • Face-cord volume changes with piece length.
  • Local commerce rules may restrict informal unit names.

In Practice

A common error is calling each 4 by 8 foot face one-third of a cord. That share works only with 16 inch pieces. Measure depth and find cubic feet before comparing prices.

Related Calculators

Log Weight Calculator

Estimate log weight from diameter, length, and a user-entered wood weight per cubic foot, with clear limits for taper and moisture.

Open the Calculator

Glass Weight Calculator

Estimate the weight of a rectangular glass pane from its length, width, mm thickness, and an adjustable lb/sq ft/mm factor.

Open the Calculator

Tank Volume Calculator

Find full tank size in US gallons for a box tank or upright round tank from the chosen shape and inside lengths in feet.

Open the Calculator

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Firewood Cord Volume

What Is The Difference Between A Cord And Face Cord?

A full cord is exactly 128 cubic feet of ranked and well-stowed firewood. A face cord is often 4 feet high by 8 feet long. Its depth is the piece length, so when depth changes, face-cord volume changes too.

Does A Cord Contain 128 Cubic Feet Of Solid Wood?

A cord fills 128 cubic feet of ranked stack space, including wood, bark, and air gaps. Solid wood changes with piece shape, split size, and the way the pile is stacked. Cord size does not state dry weight or heat value.

How Do I Enter Sixteen Inch Firewood Depth?

Divide 16 inches by 12 to convert the piece depth into 1.3333 feet. Enter that number as the stack-depth input for the measured pile. Keep the extra digits until the last step, then round.

Can This Calculator Measure A Loose Firewood Pile?

This calculator is intended for a ranked rectangular stack, not a loose dumped pile. Loose wood has more air space and may use a different local rule. Stack the wood before using the box formula.

Sources

Last updated: . Reviewed for accuracy against the formula shown above.