Face Cord vs Full Cord
One is three times more wood than the other. Know the difference before you hand over your money.
First time I bought firewood, I called a guy off Craigslist who said he had “a cord” for $200. Seemed reasonable. He showed up, dumped a pile in my driveway, and left. I stacked it up and thought something looked off. Ran the numbers. I had a face cord — one-third of what I thought I was buying. Paid $200 for about $70 worth of wood. Lesson learned the hard way.
This confusion isn’t accidental. “Cord,” “face cord,” “rick,” “stove cord,” “bush cord” — firewood sellers throw these terms around knowing most buyers don’t know the difference. Here’s exactly what each one means and how to make sure you’re getting what you pay for.
The Measurements, Side by Side
Standard 16-inch cut lengths assumed for face cord.
| Term | Dimensions | Cubic Feet | % of Full Cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Cord | 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft | 128 | 100% |
| Face Cord / Rick | 4 ft × 8 ft × 16 in | 42.7 | 33% |
| Stove Cord (12 in) | 4 ft × 8 ft × 12 in | 32 | 25% |
| Half Cord | 4 ft × 2 ft × 8 ft | 64 | 50% |
| Pickup Truck (full-size) | ~6.5 ft bed, stacked level | ~60–65 | ~50% |
The full cord (128 cu ft) is the only legally defined firewood measurement in most U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
What Is a Full Cord?
A full cord is 4 feet wide × 4 feet high × 8 feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet. That’s the legally recognized standard in the U.S. and Canada and the only measurement you should use when comparing prices between sellers.
In practice, a cord of neatly stacked, split wood contains about 80–90 cubic feet of actual solid wood. The rest is air space between the pieces. Tight, uniform splits pack more densely than gnarly, irregular rounds — which is something worth thinking about when you’re buying. A “full cord” of unsplit rounds sitting in a loose pile can have 40% air space. Not exactly what you paid for.
One full cord of dense hardwood like white oak weighs 4,000+ lbs dry. If a seller is offering to deliver a full cord in a half-ton truck bed… do the math. Not gonna happen in one trip. Weight is actually a useful sanity check when buying.
What Is a Face Cord (or Rick)?
A face cord is a stack 4 feet high × 8 feet long × one piece deep. If the wood is cut to standard 16-inch stove lengths, that’s about 42.7 cubic feet — exactly one-third of a full cord. Three face cords = one full cord. Simple math, big difference in wood.
In the Midwest and South, the same thing is called a rick. If you’re in Kentucky and someone’s selling “a rick of oak” for $100, they’re selling you a face cord. Same amount of wood, different name. Canada often uses “bush cord” to mean a full cord, just to add to the confusion.
Here’s the thing: face cords aren’t inherently a scam. A lot of homeowners want a face cord because it’s a manageable quantity and fits in a standard garage spot. The problem is when someone sells you a face cord but calls it a cord. Always ask: “What are the dimensions of this stack?” before you buy.
How to Not Get Ripped Off Buying Firewood
I’ve bought firewood from probably 20 different sellers over the years. A few were great, a couple were shady as hell, and most were just local guys doing their best. Here’s what I do every time now:
1. Ask for dimensions in writing. “How tall, how wide, how deep when it’s stacked?” A legitimate seller has no problem answering this. Anyone who gets squirrelly about dimensions is a red flag.
2. Price it out per cord. Divide the price by the fraction of a cord. Face cord at $150 = $450/cord equivalent. Compare that to other quotes. Our cord calculator does this math instantly.
3. Ask the piece length. Face cord math assumes 16-inch cuts. If the wood is cut to 12 inches, a face cord is even smaller (only 25% of a full cord). If it’s 20 inches, it’s slightly bigger. Ask before you assume.
4. Stack it before paying the balance. If you can, ask the seller to dump it so you can stack. Stacked dimensions don’t lie. A pile of rounds in a truck looks like way more wood than it actually is.
Once you know exactly how much wood you need for the winter, use our heating calculator to get a personalized cord estimate based on your home size, insulation, and climate zone.
Convert any measurement instantly
Face cords, ricks, stove cords, pickup loads — our free calculator converts between them all.
Open the Cord CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
How much wood is in a face cord vs a full cord?
Is a rick the same as a face cord?
How many face cords are in a full cord?
Why do firewood sellers use face cord instead of full cord?
What is a stove cord?
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