When searching “How Much is a Cord of Wood Near Me?”, most people are looking for “How much does a cord of Wood Cost?” or where they can find firewood from local suppliers.
The difficulty, however, can be understanding how sellers advertise their firewood for sale.
This firewood guide clarifies the differences and answers the age-old question of “where to find Firewood near me“ to avoid confusion and save you money.
The universally accepted size of a full cord of wood is 4′-0″ deep x 4’=0″ high x 8′-0″ long, and a cord of wood costs between $300-450 US Dollars, not including any delivery charges.
Anyone who burns firewood has seen the advertisements when looking for a “cord of wood near me.” Unfortunately, these ads can be vague or misleading in their offerings.
For instance, some firewood sellers will advertise a price for a “pickup truck full of wood.“
Who’s pickup truck? And Is that a full-size pickup or a small pickup truck?
We’re interested in the cost of a Cord of Wood in our area and want to differentiate between those who advertise a face cord of wood and those who offer a full cord of wood.
Today, we’ll show you “How to Avoid Paying Too Much Money for a Cord of Wood” and “How Large a Cord of Wood Is.”
How Much Does Firewood Cost?
The national average costs below show the general price of hardwood and softwood species.
Remember that market location, weather conditions, and overall Supply and Demand (the competition) in your area can significantly affect annual firewood pricing.
Firewood Prices Per Species:
Hardwood
On average, the Cost of “Hardwood” firewood (more expensive than softwood) should range between $300 and $450 per full cord for Oak or Maple. Hickory is high at $800 per cord, while Mesquite is as low as $300.
A “Mixed” assortment of hardwood and softwood should always be less expensive than a whole load of hardwood.
Softwood
The cost for just “Softwood” Firewood, such as Pine or Juniper, should run between $200 and $250/cord.
Softwood is generally considered less desirable due to its faster burning time and creosote build-up, which can lead to chimney fires. Thus, it is less popular for burning in an indoor fireplace (See “Pine” below).
If you’re searching for cords of firewood to heat your indoor space – choose hardwood.
How Much Is A Cord of Wood?
Some folks ask, “How many Pieces of Wood are in a cord?” However, the number of pieces in a full cord of wood is a random measurement. Instead, you must know the “Typical Sizes” for a Cord of Wood.
To clarify, here are the Measurements for How much a Full Cord of Wood is, How much a Half-cord of Wood is, How much a 1/4 Cord of Wood is, How much a Rack of wood is, and even How much a Face cord of wood is.
How big is a Full Cord of Wood? Answer: A Full Cord of wood is 4′ high x 4′ wide x 8′ in Length.
What a Cord of wood Is Not; It is not a weight or a shape. The weight of a cord of wood will vary depending on the wood you use.
A Full Cord of wood is technically 4 Feet Wide; however, for practical logging practices, each 4-foot log is typically cut into (Three) 16″ Logs. 16″ x 3 = 48″ (4 Feet).
The term cord does not apply to anything other than Wood. Bushels measure grains such as corn and wheat; pecks are for apples and pears, and we buy our chicken by the bucket! 🙂
However, some parts of the world refer to a Full cord of wood as a Bush Cord (Canada?)
Additional “Firewood Cord Sizes”
See U.S.A. Standards – Below
How Much is a Half Cord of Wood? Answer: A 1/2 Cord of wood is 4′ High x 4′ wide x 4′ Length
How much is a 1/4 Cord Of Wood? Answer: A 1/4 Cord of wood is 4′ High x 16″ wide x 6′ Length
I often see listings for sizes other than a traditional cord of wood, and it would be wise to learn exactly what the other types of firewood for sale are.
For Instance, for those of us who are wondering how much a 1/4 cord of wood is, it is only 32 cubic feet, while a 1/2 cord is 64 cubic feet. Quite a few retailers will offer a “face cord” of wood.
The term face cord of wood is a little tricky because it does not conform to exact measurements. Instead, it is the length and height of a full cord of wood, but a face cord is only one log deep (the cut logs are usually 16-18 inches long).
Thus, the face cord resembles a full cord, but only when viewing it from the front (or face), as a full cord or wood is 48″ deep.
If you need to add some “electrical” heat to your indoor spaces – check out the ten most efficient space heaters on the market.
Sometimes, I find advertisements for a truckload of wood. While this is a very inaccurate measurement, we can make some sense.
Whether the truck is a short bed pickup truck with a 1/2 ton rating or just a small pickup with a 1/4 ton payload capacity, we should expect to find no more than a 1/2 cord of wood in the truck bed whether it has racks or not.
An extended bed pickup with a 1/2 or even 3/4 ton payload limit can still only hold about 1/2 cord of wood without racks, but with installed racks, the capacity should double, and a whole load can be safely carried.
Likewise, a standard 1-ton truck with high racks can take a full cord of wood.
Nevertheless, whenever I haul wood, I estimate the weight and consult my owner’s manual to ensure that my truck can safely and legally carry the weight.
What is a Face Cord of Wood? – Answer: A Face Cord of wood is 4′ High x 16 – 18″ Wide x 8′ Deep
How much is a face cord of wood? Many sellers will offer a “face cord” of wood without explaining how big a face cord is. All you need to know is that it is similar to a full cord of wood, except it includes one row vs. three rows of firewood.
The term is tricky because it does not conform to exact measurements. Instead, it is the length and height of a full cord of wood but only “One Log” Deep – not Three rows deep as is a Typical Cord of Wood.
Difference Between a Full Cord vs. Face Cord:
What is a Rick of Wood?
You may also find many advertisements for different kinds of wood and many different measurements for the size of the lots they’re selling. I encounter full cords, 1/2 cords of wood, 1/4 cords, face cords, truckloads, and ricks.
What is the Best Type of Firewood to Buy?
“Oak” – Firewood
Many are looking for oak firewood near me and for a good reason. Oak has a substantial density, so it’s often used for making a DIY workbench and is also the best-burning firewood.
Oak is probably the best option for those who haven’t experimented much with different kinds of wood. It is a very dense wood that grows throughout North America.
The density of oak firewood makes it a slow burner that requires little work to keep going. The only trouble with Oak is getting the fire started, so a little pine mixed in at first can do the trick.
When searching for firewood near me, I sometimes choose between Red and White Oak. In my experience, the White Oak burns slightly better and has a more pleasing aroma than the Red.
However, white oak can be more difficult to split than Red Oak, so if you do the splitting yourself, Red would be the better option.
If you’re good at working with wood and need some backyard privacy – check out the “Cheapest way to build a Wood Privacy Fence” – To build your fence!
“Pine” – Firewood
Both Red and White pine are famous for firewood. On the positive side, pine splits, cures easily, and starts and burns quickly.
Unfortunately, its high resin and sap content makes it messy and unpredictable. While the crackling and popping noise of a pine fire is charming, it results from the ignition of sap pockets.
These sap pockets can spark and send flames outside your fire and ignite on the carpet. Pine is ideal on snowy days and outdoor fires but not indoors.
Though it exudes a pleasant aroma, Pine should not be burned inside. No matter how much trimming you do of the pine needles, it is instead the creosote sap that can lead to chimney problems.
Extra special care should be taken when burning pine. If the chimney is not cleaned regularly, creosotes can build up and potentially cause a fire.
“Douglas Fir” – Firewood
Douglas Fir is another excellent softwood for burning as firewood. When searching for firewood, I often encounter Douglas Fir cords for sale.
Though it doesn’t ignite as quickly or efficiently as pine, Douglas Fir is knot-free and conveniently splits into smaller kindling-size chunks for fire.
While it generates more heat than some hardwoods, it is a low-density wood, so the oxygen content in the fire is elevated, resulting in a faster-burning fire.
“Maple” – Firewood
When I look for firewood, I often find abundant maple. Maple is another excellent hardwood for fires that produce little smoke.
However, I find Maple much more challenging to split than Oak. Though it burns slower than Oak, it does so at a lower temperature.
“Birch” – Firewood
Birch is a quick-starting hardwood that generates a lot of heat. Unfortunately, it also burns rapidly and requires more attention and maintenance.
I try to use it as kindling or mix it with other logs for a more sustainable fire.
“Black Locust” – Firewood
When searching for firewood nearby, I had the good fortune of stumbling across a cord of Black Locust in my area. Black Locust wood creates super-hot coals as they burn and radiate sufficient heat for an extended period.
Moreover, the Black Locust coals eventually consume and leave very little ash to clean up. However, Black Locust tends to pop and throw sparks while burning, and some users complain that its aroma is unpleasant.
Black Locust firewood is rare but can be found native to Eastern North America.
The History of Firewood (For Firewood Nerds)
Although firewood has been part of the American tradition since colonial times, the term “cord” has become as mysterious to most people as the distance of a furlong, the length of a fortnight, or the speed of a knot.
A comfy fire in the living room is one of the great pleasures of winter. While artificial logs and gas fireplaces have encroached on firewood’s honored position, the number of households in America that utilize firewood as the primary heating source is increasing.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2012, approximately 2.5 million homes relied on firewood as their primary energy source for home heating, an increase from only 1.9 million households in 2005.
Where did the name “Cord of Wood” originate?
Etymological researchers have traced the term “cord” back to the 1300s when it began to describe string or small rope composed of several strands.
The earliest record for the term of a cord of wood first appeared in the 1610s when wood was measured and sold by the length of the cord that bound it, though we have no record as to how long their cord was.
The Official Size of a Cord of Wood:
A “cord” is an official volume measurement for “Fireplace and Stove Wood.” It was most recently established at the 99th National Conference on Weights and Measures 2014.
In section 2.4.1.2, NIST defined a Cord as ” the amount of wood contained in the space of 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed.”
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) later documented the conference’s conclusions in 2015 when they published the “Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality.”
This process and documentation became known as the NIST Handbook #130 and was published in 2015. In section 2.4.1.1, NIST defined “Fireplace and Stove Wood” as “any kindling, logs, boards, timbers, or other wood, natural or processed, split or not split, advertised, offered for sale, or sold for use as fuel.”
For this regulation, “ranked and well stowed” means that pieces of wood are placed in a line or row, with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other, and stacked compactly.
This mandate means that the buyer and seller should ensure that the wood is not stacked haphazardly to increase the volume. As we all know, it is impossible to take a product out of a box and make everything fit.
Are you looking for a fantastic four-foot Firewood Rack to hold your firewood this season? Check this one out.
More Firewood History
Some of us might still be thinking, “OK, this is all very interesting, and I appreciate the information, but I have a hard time picturing 128 cubic feet of something. Exactly how much is a cord of wood?”
Answer: Cubic feet measurement is simple to calculate;
Square footage refers to the product of the length times the width of some space, so a cubic measurement merely adds one more dimension to the equation. We must multiply the Length x Width x Height = Square Feet.
While this configuration could theoretically be assembled in many ways, most professionals I find selling firewood near me will assemble a cord 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 4 feet high.
However, if the wood is short lengthwise, it might be better to arrange it as 2 feet wide x 4 feet tall x 16 long.
Once you have your Firewood cut and in place, Check out how to build a DIY fire pit—the cheapest way!
We expect to hear stories of firewood buyers ordering a cord of wood and receiving a truckload. Some firewood sellers think they can offer a cord and deliver a large pile.
Either through ignorance or malice, they are misleading their customers and engaging in fraud if their truckload doesn’t stack into a measured cord.
By the way, for those of you who would prefer to keep all Ten Fingers when cutting your firewood into Kindling, check out this Super Cool – and much safer tool you can use:
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If you’re looking for an 8-ft. Rack to stack your firewood; click here for the Price
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Firewood
How Much is One Cord of Wood?
The universally accepted size of One cord of wood is 4′-0″ deep x 4′-0″ high x 8′-0″ long when stacked.
How Much Does a Cord of Wood Weigh?
The weight of a cord of wood depends on the type of wood. Hardwood can weigh twice as much as pine, so a cord of Oak firewood is approximately 5,000 pounds, while a softer wood, like Pine, can be as little as 2,500 pounds.
The age and dryness of the firewood will also affect its weight.
How many Pieces are in a Cord of Wood?
A cord of wood contains approximately 450 pieces. This is, of course, dependent on how the firewood has been split.
For this measurement, we assume that a typical cord of timber is 4′-0″ deep x 4′-0″ high x 8′-0″ long and that the logs have been “split in half” before stacking.
How much does it cost to deliver Firewood?
You can trim the price of your firewood purchase by picking it up yourself. However, many firewood dealers near you will deliver firewood to your home for those without a trailer or pickup truck.
Expect the cost of local Firewood Delivery to vary greatly, anywhere from $100/load to FREE delivery—depending on the vendor’s price.
How much is a “Face Cord” of Wood
The answer is pretty simple for those wondering how much a Face Cord of wood costs compared to a Full cord. As shown in our illustrations below, a face cord is 16″ deep; contrast, one full cord of firewood is 48″ deep.
Therefore, a face cord should cost 1/3 the price of a full cord of firewood.
How Do I Find Firewood For Sale Near Me?
Our suggestion – First, become a savvy shopper for cords of wood for sale near me, and learn how big a cord of wood is and what it should cost.
Once you find a trustworthy source, you can spend less time searching for firewood next season.
Some Services also provide Firewood Stacking onsite at your place – usually for an extra $20 – $30 bucks, but it might be worth it, as they will be forced to demonstrate the size of the stack is an actual “Cord” 🙂
Can You Harvest Your Own Firewood?
If you’re interested in harvesting your firewood rather than buying already-cut firewood, it starts with a good chainsaw. For the best chainsaws – check out our article, “Best Chainsaws for Homeowners.“
To gather wood, you must first obtain a permit or permission from local authorities or landowners.
Are you looking to Harvest Your Wood? If you’re doing a lot of lumber on your property, you may want to consider a wood chipper shredder for easier cleanup.
How Do You Stack Firewood?
The simplest way to stack firewood is to use the free-stack method. With this method, choose an open area (for ventilation) and lay each log next to and on top of the others, forming a long row of firewood.
To maintain the height and configuration of the firewood stack, you can place two—to four-foot poles in the ground at either end to support the stack or use “crib ends,” alternating each row of logs to create a supporting structure.
In addition, we recommend stacking firewood well away from your house to dry and cure. While winter kills them, wood attracts various bugs – including termites, which you don’t want in your home.
Keep your woodpile at least 50 -100 ft. from your home, and if possible, bring firewood ready to burn indoors.
Firewood Video: How To Stack Firewood “Without Supports”
Where Can I Buy Firewood?
Use an internet search engine like Google or Bing to avoid paying too much for firewood. It is the fastest way to find firewood in your area.
You may also find good options for local firewood by word of mouth, such as stores that sell chainsaws or wood splitters.
Conclusion
Thanks for visiting Best Home Gear! We hope this article has helped you determine the cost of a cord of wood and why it is essential to consider heating with wood. To find the best possible deal for the available firewood near me, I carefully consider all potential variables, and so should you.
First of all, determine how much a cord of wood is.
Get at least two estimates from reputable dealers. Is the wood already pre-split into burnable pieces? This is a big one! Will they deliver it, or do I need to pick it up?
Thus, the advertised firewood prices near me are only a starting point in my research for the best possible deal for the money I’m spending.
Additional Reference & Reading:
- Tips on Storing and Drying Firewood – Cornell University
- Another fun DIY Project – How to Build Your Own Corn Hole Board Set” – BestHomeGear.com
- Firewood Primer – Which Wood Burns Best: BobVilla.Com Free Branches in Your Way?
- The “Best Cordless Pole Saw” at Amazon – BestHomeGear.com Easy Yard Clean Up – “The Best
- 5 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers You Can Buy” – BestHomeGear.com
