What is a cord of firewood?
A full cord is a stacked pile of wood measuring 128 cubic feet — the classic 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. In most states, North Carolina included, the cord is the legal unit for selling firewood. Watch for 'face cords' and 'ricks,' which are only one row deep and often a third of a real cord for nearly full-cord money.
The exact measure
A cord is defined by volume, not weight: 128 cubic feet of wood stacked tight and orderly. Picture a stack four feet tall and eight feet long, with the pieces cut to about 16 inches so three rows front-to-back make up the four-foot depth. Stacked neatly, that's a full cord.
Because it's a volume measure, how the wood is stacked matters. Loosely tossed wood in a truck bed is nearly impossible to verify — reputable sellers deliver and let you stack it, or stack it for you, so you can actually see 128 cubic feet.
Cords, face cords, and ricks
This is where mountain firewood buyers get burned. A 'face cord' or 'rick' is a stack four feet high and eight feet long but only one row deep — the length of a single split, often 16 inches. That's roughly a third of a full cord, even though it looks like a wall of wood.
There's nothing wrong with buying a face cord if that's what's priced and stated. The problem is paying full-cord money for a face-cord pile. Always ask, in plain terms, how many cubic feet or what fraction of a full cord you're getting before money changes hands.
How much you'll go through
How many cords a winter takes depends on your stove, your home, and how hard the season bites — a well-insulated house zone-heated by an efficient stove sips wood, while an open older cabin drinks it. Rather than guess a number, plan to buy ahead so it can season.
That's the real lesson: buy your wood a season early, stack it dry, and you sidestep both the wet-wood problem and the last-minute scramble when a cold snap hits. Need a stove sized to burn wood efficiently instead of eating it? Call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- What does "seasoned" firewood mean and why does moisture content matter?
- Does the type of wood you burn change how much heat you get?
- What does "burn time" mean on a wood stove?
- How does a modern wood stove actually work?
- What is creosote and why does it build up in a chimney?
- What is a direct vent gas fireplace and how does it work?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
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