How Much Wood is in a Cord?

A full cord of cordwood, split or unsplit and stacked should measure 4 feet deep by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.

A face cord of cordwood, split or unsplit and stacked should measure 4 feet high by 8 feet long

This can lead to some confusion depending on the length of the logs and the following diagrams will show what you can expect to get when ordering wood by the cord and the length.

Full Cord. Logs 12 inches long. 4 x 8 units 4 times.

Logs 18 inches long. 4 x 8 units 2.7 times.

Logs 20 inches long. 4 x 8 units 2.4 times.

Logs 24 inches long. 4 x 8 units 2 times.

Face Cord. A face cord measures 4 feet x 8 feet regardless of the length of the logs.

BEECHWOOD logs burn bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.

CHESTNUT's only good, they say
If for long it's laid away.

BIRCH and FIR logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last.

ELM wood burns like a church yard mold
Even the very flames are cold.

POPLAR gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.

APPLE wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume.

OAK and MAPLE if dry and old
Keep away the winter cold.

But ASH wood wet and ASH wood dry a
king shall warm his sippers by.

Chimneys List - September 2000
Source Anonymous.