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Firewood Cord Calculator
How many cords a stack or woodshed holds, and how big a shed you need.
Part of the 🏠 Homeowners and DIYers toolkit, with more tools made for the job.
The stack, or the inside of the shed
Gives how long the stack lasts. It depends on your stove, house and winters, so use your own figure.
Shows the space you need.
Type the length, height and depth, and the cords it holds appear here.
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Enter the length, height and depth of the stack, or the inside of the shed. This shows how many cords it holds. Or type the cords you want to store and see the space you need.
Firewood is sold and counted in cords, and a full cord is 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood, about 3.6 cubic metres. It does not have to be a 4 by 4 by 8 foot stack, because any stack that adds up to 128 cubic feet is a cord. That makes it easy to check a delivery, and to work out whether your shed will hold the winter's supply. Sellers also use other names like a face cord or a rick, which are smaller and depend on the length of the logs, so measure what you are given.
How it’s worked out
- Volume is the length times the height times the depth.
- In metres, the volume is converted to cubic feet.
- Cords are the cubic feet divided by 128.
- If you give the cords you burn a year, the tool shows how many years the stack lasts. To plan a shed, the cords wanted are multiplied by 128 cubic feet.
A stack 8 ft long, 4 ft high and 4 ft deep is 128 cubic feet, exactly one cord. A shed bay 48 ft long, 4 ft high and 1.5 ft deep holds 288 cubic feet, which is 2.25 cords.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a cord with a face cord. A face cord is smaller and depends on the log length, so ask what you are buying.
- Counting a loose pile. Wood must be stacked tightly, with the pieces parallel, to count as a cord. A loose pile can take up around 30 percent more space.
- Sizing a shed to the exact stack. Leave room for air to move and for getting the wood in and out.
- Guessing how much you burn. It depends on your stove, your house and your winters, so use your own record from a season.
Questions
How big is a cord?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet, which is about 3.62 cubic metres. The classic stack is 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long, but any shape that adds up to 128 cubic feet counts.
What is a face cord?
A stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long but only as deep as the log, so it is a fraction of a cord. The fraction depends on the log length, so check what you are buying.
How much firewood will I need?
That depends on your stove, the house, the wood and the winter. Keep a record for a season and use your own figure. The tool does not guess it.
How should I store firewood?
Dry and off the ground, with air able to move through the stack. A shed with open sides, or a covered rack, works well.
Where the method comes from
Estimates only
These are estimates and general information, not building, safety, legal or professional advice. Materials, coverage, waste and rules vary by product, project and place, so check the maker's instructions and your local rules, and use a qualified person for gas, electrical and structural work.
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