What Is Cord?
A cord is a unit used to measure a big stack of firewood. It tells you how much space the wood takes up, not how much it weighs. One full cord is the same as a tight stack of wood that is 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long.
Definition
A cord measures volume, which means how much space something fills.
- 1 cord of wood = 128 cubic feet of stacked wood
- Commonly pictured as a pile 4 ft high, 4 ft deep, 8 ft long
The spaces of air between the logs are included in this volume. So a cord does not mean 128 cubic feet of solid wood, it means the whole stacked pile.
History / Origin
The cord was created to make buying and selling firewood more fair and clear. Long ago, people traded wood in loose piles, and it was easy to cheat or make mistakes about how much wood was really there.
To fix this, a standard size pile was agreed on. People used lengths of rope, called cords, to measure the stack. The name cord comes from this measuring rope. Over time, laws in places like the United States and Canada made the cord an official unit for firewood.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The cord is not an SI unit, so there is no single official symbol like for meter or kilogram.
- Full word: cord
- Common short form in writing: cord or sometimes cd
Because cd is also used for another unit called candela, it is usually safest to write the word cord in full when talking about firewood.
Current Use Around the World
The cord is most common in:
- The United States
- Canada
In these countries, many firewood sellers use the cord as their main size for dry wood used in fireplaces, stoves, or outdoor fires.
In many other parts of the world, people measure firewood with metric units, such as cubic meters. Some places also use the stere, which is equal to 1 cubic meter of stacked wood.
Even in places that know the cord, smaller piles are sometimes sold using terms like face cord or rick, which are based on the full cord.
Example Conversions
Here are some simple conversions using a full cord of wood.
- 1 cord = 128 cubic feet of stacked wood
- 1 cord is about 3.62 cubic meters of stacked wood
- 0.5 cord = 64 cubic feet ≈ 1.81 cubic meters
- 0.25 cord = 32 cubic feet ≈ 0.91 cubic meters
Some sellers talk about a face cord. This is often a stack that is 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but only about 16 inches deep, which is about one third of a full cord. So:
- 1 face cord ≈ 1/3 cord (this can change by seller and region)
Always ask the seller for the exact height, depth, and length of the stack so you know how many cords you are really getting.
Related Units
Units that are related to the cord and to measuring firewood volume include:
- Cubic foot (ft³) unit of volume in the imperial system
- Cubic meter (m³) main metric unit of volume
- Stere equal to 1 cubic meter of stacked wood
- Face cord an informal unit, usually about one third of a full cord
- Rick another local name for a stack of wood, often about the size of a face cord
FAQs
Q: How big is one cord of wood in simple terms?
A: Picture a neat stack of cut firewood that is 4 feet tall, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. That full stack is one cord.
Q: Is a face cord the same as a cord?
A: No. A face cord is usually only about one third of a full cord, because it is not as deep. Always check the exact depth of the pile.
Q: Does a cord measure weight or volume?
A: A cord measures volume, the space the stacked wood and air gaps fill. The weight can change a lot depending on the type of wood and how dry it is.
Q: Why is the cord still used if most science uses metric units?
A: The cord is easy for wood sellers and buyers who are used to it. It gives a clear picture of a standard pile of firewood, so many people keep using it.
Q: How can I check if I really got a full cord?
A: Measure the height, depth, and length of the stacked pile in feet. Multiply height × depth × length. If the result is close to 128 cubic feet, you have about one full cord.