Firewood Measurements

84 thoughts on “Firewood Measurements”

1. I often times see wood advertised by the “pick up truck load” If I do my math about right one slightly rounded top fullsize pickup truck load of fire wood is 1/3 of a cord of wood. Price typically depends on the type of wood and whether it is split and seasoned. 75 to 80 bucks per load. or 225 to 240 per cord 4′ X 4′ X 8′. So in this case who gives a crap how big the pieces are cut or what the “official” measurement of wood is. What really matters is how much wood sells for in a particular area of the country and how many btu’s you are buying. Natural gas is pretty cheap right now so if you are paying too much for wood you are probably doing yourself a disservice when it comes to economics. If you are burning wood for the nice heat it gives the nice aroma and the beauty then by all means burn wood.

2. It is not hard. Most places don’t allow any other measure name but a cord, or fraction of a cord. 221,184 should be the total volume if you measure Length, Width, and Height in inches. You can figure out the fraction of a cord price as a percentage of that total. Most states have laws regulating the sale by backwoods measurements or terms. Reporting them is the only way to get any recompense. And inform yourself before the next purchase. Most require a receipt be given. Any other type of transaction, and you are asking to be taken advantage of.

3. I delivered a cord (8×4×4) and the guy said it was only half a cord. He said a cord was 1 Ricthere’s no arguementh was 16’long×4 high×there’s alwah, but doesn’t that equal the same amount of wood.

   Some people are ignorant to the work it takes to makefirewood. I sell mine by 8×4×4 that way theres no aeguement.

4. I’ve lived in Oregon for nearly 50 years, and it wasn’t until the last 10 that I had the pleasure of living in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere where my main source of heat was a small quatro four stove.

   I am now retired, and I’m no longer able to cut and trim my firewood. For that, I rely on my good friend Bubba.

   At first, I measured the cords he sold me. And he made good on a shortfall. In a way, I was embarrassed.

   Since then, I have asked him only for a truckload. For the last 5 years, he has kept my 24’4’8′ storage shed filled through the season with dry seasoned pine or fir. We’ve kept the cost steady, and I have gotten to know his family.

   There’s a lot to be said about trusting your provider. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

   I gave him full warning that by February, I would likely need another load, and he apologized that some of it would be wet. OK by me, I can re-stack.

   The thing is, please put away your calipers. It’s not about the metrics; It’s about your friends.

   eric

5. I was always told that 4 feet high 4 feet wide 8 feet long is a cord. 2 feet high and 2 feet wide and 8 feet wide is a half a cord. How much would a card be how much would a half a cord Be dollar wise.

6. The second measurement is only 1/4 of a cord. If it was 2 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, that would be 1/2 cord. Prices depend on the type of wood and where you are located.

7. I sure would be interested in buying a couple of trucks loads of oak and having it hauled to amarillo texas 806-674-3163

8. my wood is all oak seasonsd 8 foot long 4 foot hight and any where from 10 to 18 inches long a row for 100,oo$

9. Length x width x height in stacked form is the best way to know exactly what you have and Not cross stacked, Stacked nose to tail. (4′ x 4′ x 8′ = 128 cubic feet) If you have a stacked section say 11′ x 5.5′ x (18″ or 1.5 ft.) in this instance you would have 90.75 cubic ft. of wood. You must convert inches to feet as the example above (18″ = 1.5 feet). Multiply the three numbers together and for a full cord should come out to 128 feet.

10. Having a ” discussion” with Girl friend right now . She says she has sold ” rick’s” of seasoned hard wood delivered and Stacked 2 foot x 2 foot x 4 foot tall for 55$ all day long ! . As I look up local prices [ craigslist ] a cord .4x4x8 = 115-200$ depending on quality , quantity. SIXTEEN times her ‘rick’ for 2-3 times the $$ for a cord.
    If what she says is accurate. 32 ricks [2x2x4] x 55$=**$1760**
    32x2x2x4= 256 cubic feet= 2 cords = **$300** average [ 150 per cord]
    ___$ 1460 difference !!!___

11. I live in Indiana, and we may be backwood, but we use “Rick” as a base measurement for our firewood. I only know about a Cord because I lived in upstate New York for a couple years. Most people, in my area, have heard of a Cord but aren’t sure how it is measured. On the subject of how perfect of a standard unit of measurement the Cord is supposed to be, unless someone is measuring each piece when cutting wood they plan to stack in a cord, I have to believe there is probably a little variation there as well.

    With regard to measurement, I don’t think people are all that anal around here about that. If the price is posted and you agree to it, does it matter what fraction of a real true Cord is? If it is Shagbark Hickory, it’s going to cost more than Sycamore, and Red Oak more than Popular and so on. You pay based on the wood type, the length the guy selling it cut it to and how seasoned it is.
    Sure there are some fancy places that package the wood in plastic mesh and deliver to your door if you want to pay the extra money for the same wood as the guy down the gravel road from you.

    I cut approximately 10 “Cord” a year, starting as soon as it is dry enough in the spring through to deer season which starts here in October. Yes, I’m out there when it’s 98F while the other guys are waiting for fall to begin before they cut. My saw is a used Stihl MS361 (now discontinued) that I bought used for $350, I haul it with a ’97 F250 7.3L rustbucket and I split it all by hand. Pieces that are too knotty to split I give to my neighbor who has a splitter. Most of my wood comes from getting permission to cut the tops left over after people have their woods logged. It’s not glamorous, it’s not easy, it’s sweaty and filthy, but it saves me about $500 per month in winter (and it helps keep me in shape.)

12. I just received my first tree it is a King Kong tree and it waiting to cut up thanks for all the input

13. i’ ve sold firewood for most of my life, for many years i had a truck with a 16′ bed 7 1/2 ft wide , i stacked the wood 54 ” tall to allow for shake down and for not being quite 8′ wide. in all my years i only had one guy tell me i was short of having 4 cord of wood. i now haul on my old pickup with an 8′ ft flat bed . i staxck it 28” high and 8′ long and 7 ‘ wide. i know longer sell by the cord which would be the same thing. but less complications since people don’t understand what they are getting anymore. i posted my wood for sale last year and had a guy ask me if i would sell by the cord, i said no and ask him if he knew how much a cord was, i had to tell him he was looking at a cord of wood in the pics, . so no sale to him which really didn’t hurt my feelings

14. Growing up in southern Illinois we all ways cut are wood 12″ long and I was all ways told a cord is four rolls of 4′ high and 8’long and a rick is one roll 4′ high and 8′ long making a rick 1/4 of a cord tho I don’t heat with wood any more I still buy it in Ricks for my smoker

15. I was wonder if someone is going to sell you five ricks of wood how big will a traitor should be..

16. I live in western Ky I sell wood by the rick which is around here 22 inches wide by 4 ft. High by 8 ft long whether it’s dry or green. Most of it sell off $50.00 pet rick

17. I buy seasoned black walnut here in KS for $100 stacked and delivered, one rick, 8’X4’X2′.

18. Here in Oklahoma, firewood is sold by the Rick, which is approximately 8’W x 4’H x one stick deep. Obviously, the stick length can vary, so I shop around. Usually $70 – $80 for Oak.

19. We live in the country and especially in Winter can lose power sometimes for days. Wood is not a luxury it’s a necessity. In finally reading the specifications of a cord I’ve been made aware the most that’s ever been delivered and stacked was brought in the back of a full size pick up truck, a Sierra.
    I should have looked up this information more than a decade ago. Better late than never. So what’s the likelihood a cord of wood was delivered. This year I’ll measure. This is strictly a business deal. It means having an alternate hear resource. Thank you

20. To the guy arguing with his girl friend about the tickets for $55.00. What she is selling is approximately a quarter of a cord. So she would be getting $220.00 for a cord.

21. A good person named Richard that I bought firewood from years ago, was the only person that didn’t try to rip me off and sold true cords of firewood. 4×4 x8 feet. 128 cubic feet. He stated that firewood stacked properly (tight) so that a mouse could run through but a cat couldn’t follow. I have seen people stack wood with big gaps between the pieces. They devise to rip people off. Be wary and get in writing what you are getting. If someone brings you a trailer that is 4x4x8 foot and the wood is just thrown in, not stacked it is not a cord. Trust me. If you don’t believe you have a full cord, stack it up, dont pay till after you do so. If they help and its short, make them make it good before you pay them. If its good. Give them a tip for helpng you stack it up.

22. ok i’ve been around 56 years a full cord of wood is 4′ h x 4’w x 8′ long, a face cord is 4’h x 16″ w x 8′ long, and should be 1/3 the price of a full cord. if the wood is cut 12” then the price should be 1/4 the price of a full cord. three rows at 16″ = 4′, four rows cut 12″ = 4′ its really simple math

23. Let me tell you fellers somethun if you stack your wood 2ft by 2ft by 4ft by 8ft is two Ricks or a half a cord 4Ricks make a full rick

24. In Oklahoma all firewood is measured as ricks. You may get a truck load or even 2/3 truck load and it is called a rick. I’ve been here 25 years and I have never seen a real rick of wood sold. Either the people here are lazy or dumb and just don’t care. They pay anywhere from $85 to $135 for a rick of firewood but only get half that. All firewood is sold as seasoned and ready to burn but very little is actually seasoned. When I buy firewood I always specify to the seller: The wood will be checked for seasoning and rick size. I don’t haggle about the charge. I have had a number of sellers back out but the ones that deliver good wood I always put their numbers out for others.

25. I’ve heard both terms all my life and I just always thought a rick was a half-cord.

26. I have not yet seen any wood venders in my area st. Lawerance county ny. to be fair when selling fire wood. I just had another load delived and it seems to be even smaller then the last load.witch was small as well. So I went out and measured it after stacking it. I got one row against my porch and It measured 5 and a half feel long by 5 and a half high. Not to mention the gaps in between cuz the wood has limbs. I’m really upset paying $65.00 for unseasoned and $85.00 for seasoned wood when I’m not getting enough wood for my money. What can I do about this?

27. I have always used rick as a measurement in Ok. I ran out of wood a few years ago when my saws went down so i asked for a rick of wood and told them i wanted my logs 24″ long and the said we cut them 16 to 18 and i asked why they said most stove can only take that size. I told them i still have an old one so i want the original size log. They told me the rick size has changed and i said why, the gallon is still a gallon, a ton is still a ton a cup is still a cup and an oz is still an oz and a cord is still a cord and so on.

28. How many decasteres of wood can be
    obtained in a stack of firewood lr.iE:asuring
    lOm by 4m by 2m?

29. Well, up here in Northern Minnesota, a cord is 4X4X8 and a face cord or half cord is 4X4x24″ . Some consider that a Rick. But, because 24″ is fairly long for Most fireplace inserts, and for metal backyard fire pits, and for small splitters, most folks like their wood in the 16-20 ” range.. Hence, a Ricks /4X4X 16-20″ . Just a little less than 1/2 cord. And the real trick is to sell and deliver by pickup truck load. And when it arrives, it was just thrown willy -nilly and is no where near a half, full cord or Rick. Like others have said, you’ve got to know and trust your supplier

30. I just have to say OH Wow! On all the differences of the measurements of a cord! It does matter if you have to pay for it but up here in northern Minnesota, we get it from our back yard and the difference between one cord of wood vs a rick could mean a warm winter vs a -40 degree winter. So I’m going with the 8x4x4 full cord x2 to make it through my winter…

31. I sell firewood am one person. I sell it by the rick. which i was told was 4’x8’ bye what ever. didn’t know. i’ve been doing this most of my life. if i stack it. it is 4 1/2’x81/2’x18 i have never had a complaint. they have asked me to stack it because they didn’t think it was right and when i do they lose about 1/2 truck load. am not committing fraud i work very hard. and always make sure the customer is happy and satisfied with what i bring

32. amazing. a rick is a rick is a rick. that’s 2’x4’x8′. however, most people cannot burn 2ft logs. they won’t fit. so, given most firewood is generally 14″-18″ long logs (split, of course), the way i’ve found to assure a buyer gets what they pay for, ‘specially with some of the stupid prices some suppliers charge, is to measure it out close as possible in a 4’x4’x4′ stack. comes out to 64 cubic feet. that’s a rick… or half a cord. it’s easier that way and it’s fair that way ’cause never are the logs exactly uniform in length and rarely ever 2’…..unless that’s specifically asked for and cut to suit

33. I used to sell mine at $120 a cord delivered, that’s seasoned oak. A lot of times the city folk would have a round metal fire wood rack and there’d say “that thing holds a cord” So i would fill it up as tight as I could. Charge them $120 and go sell the other Rick (half a cord) to his neighbor. The moral to the story is don’t tell a lumber jack how big a cord is, you may only get a rick

34. Here in San Antonio Texas people are dead set on ripping buyers off. Had a guy come to my house the other day and argue with me that to fill my 8 x 4 rack would be a cord, a whole cord not a face cord, and would cost $325. I’ve had this same discussion at least a dozen times, they say no that’s because it’s cross stacked in measurement but if you sardine stack nose to tail then 8×4 1 row 12-16″ logs is a full cord. It’s. Absolutely. Absurd.