Firewood Calculator
Check what a firewood delivery really contains. Measure the stacked pile and convert it to cords, the legal unit for firewood sales in much of Canada: 1 cord = 3.62 m³ of stacked wood.
Your results
Worked example
A delivered stack measures 4 m long, 1.2 m high, and one row deep at 0.4 m:
- Stacked volume: 4 × 1.2 × 0.4 = 1.92 m³
- Cords: 1.92 ÷ 3.62 m³ per cord = 0.53 cords
- At $350 per cord, this stack is worth 0.5304 × $350 = $185.64
- If you paid $150 for it, your effective price is $150 ÷ 0.5304 = $282.81 per cord
A true full cord stacked 0.4 m deep would run about 7.5 m long at this height, so a half-cord result on a load sold as a full cord is exactly the shortfall this check is meant to catch.
How this calculator works
A cord is defined by stacked volume, 128 cubic feet, which is 3.62 m³, including the air gaps between pieces. That is why the stack must be measured neatly stacked, not loose in a pile: a loose pile contains far more air and overstates the wood you received. A face cord is not a fixed legal measure; it is a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long with pieces of any length, so its value depends entirely on the piece length.
Common questions
What is the difference between a cord and a face cord?
A cord is 3.62 m³ of stacked wood whatever the piece length. A face cord is one row 4 ft by 8 ft, and the piece length sets the real volume: at 16 inch pieces, a face cord is about one third of a cord. Always convert to cords before comparing prices.
The load arrived loose in a truck bed. How do I measure it?
Stack it first, then measure. Firewood settles and interlocks when stacked, and sellers who quote cords are quoting stacked volume. Measuring after stacking is the only fair check for both sides.
Estimates only. Results are provided for planning purposes and use the cord definition of 3.62 m³ of stacked volume stated on this page. Loose or poorly stacked wood measures differently. Mississippi Maple accepts no liability for purchase decisions made using this calculator.