CordwiseHow to measure a cord of wood
Stack the wood tightly, then multiply length × height × log length, all in feet. Divide by 128: the result is how many cords you have.
Worked example: you paid for a cord and stacked the delivery in one row 16 feet long and 4 feet high, of 16-inch logs. That is 16 × 4 × 1.33 = 85 cubic feet, 0.67 of a cord: about a third short.
The same steps measure a face cord or a rick. Each is one row, so its log length decides how much wood it holds.
Step by step
- Stack it tightlyLay the logs parallel with ends lined up and no large gaps.
- Measure length and heightMeasure the stack's length and height in feet. If the height varies, use the average.
- Measure a logMeasure one log's length in inches. It is the row's depth.
- Multiply and divide by 128Length times height times log length divided by 12, then divide by 128 for cords.
- Compare with what you paid forEnter the cords you paid for to see the share that arrived.
Questions
How do I measure a face cord or a rick?
The same way: the row's length and height in feet, times the log length. A row 4 feet high and 8 feet long of 16-inch logs is about 43 cubic feet, a third of a cord.
What if the wood was dumped in a pile?
Stack it first. Loose wood takes more room, so measuring the pile overstates the wood.
What if the stack comes up short?
Keep your measurements. They show the seller exactly how much wood arrived.
Do I measure the gaps between logs too?
Yes. A cord is measured as a stack, air included, so measure the outside of a tight stack.