Measure the stacked pile (length × height × length of the pieces), and the calculator gives its volume in cords and stacked cubic metres. A full cord is 128 cubic feet (3.62 m³). Add the price you were quoted to see what you really pay per full cord. The second calculator turns your pellet stove’s burn rate into bags for the season.
How to measure a pile of firewood
- Length: measure along the pile, end to end.
- Height: measure from the bottom of the wood (not the ground under the pallets or rails) to the top. If the top is uneven, take the average of a few points.
- Depth: the length of the pieces. A single row of 16 in logs is 16 in deep; two rows side by side are 32 in.
- Only measure stacked wood. A loose, thrown pile holds far more air, so its volume says little about how much wood you are getting.
The formulas
| What | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Volume in cubic feet | length (ft) × height (ft) × piece length (in) ÷ 12 |
| Share of a cord | cubic feet ÷ 128 |
| Stacked cubic metres | cubic feet ÷ 35.3 |
| Price per full cord | price paid ÷ share of a cord |
| Pellet bags per season | burn rate (kg/h) × hours per day × heating days ÷ bag weight (18.1 kg for 40 lb) |
Example only: a pile 8 ft long, 4 ft high, of 16 in pieces is 8 × 4 × 16 ÷ 12 = 42.7 ft³, about a third of a cord. If it costs $150, that is about $450 per full cord.
For the legal units and how sellers must measure, see how much is a cord of firewood. For the pellet side, how long a 40 lb bag lasts explains burn rates and the tables behind the second calculator.
Comparing firewood with pellets
Volume is only half the comparison: what heats your home is the energy in the fuel and how efficiently your stove burns it. Dry wood gives far more heat than wet wood, and dry firewood is usually advised below about 20% moisture. Our pellets vs firewood guide shows how to compare the two per unit of heat, and how to store firewood covers keeping it dry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a cord of firewood?
Multiply the length and height of the stacked pile in feet by the length of the pieces in feet, then divide by 128. A pile 8 ft long, 4 ft high and 4 ft deep is exactly one cord.
How many cubic feet are in a face cord?
A “face cord” is usually one row 4 ft high and 8 ft long, so its volume depends on the piece length: about 42.7 ft³ with 16 in pieces, a third of a full cord. It isn’t a legal unit for selling firewood in Canada, so always ask for the dimensions.
How many cubic metres is a cord of wood?
About 3.62 stacked cubic metres. One stacked cubic metre is about 35.3 ft³.
How many bags of pellets do I need for a winter?
Multiply your stove’s burn rate (kg per hour) by your hours of use per day and the number of heating days, then divide by 18.1 kg for a 40 lb bag. At 1.5 kg/h, 12 hours a day for 150 days, that is just under 150 bags.
Heating with pellets this winter? See heating pellets and pallet prices, or eco logs if you burn wood.