Q: I just bought a home with a wood-burning stove, and I want to stock up on wood. I’ve noticed wood is sold by the cord, but I’m new to this. How much is a cord of wood?A: People who don’t regularly burn wood are unfamiliar with how much wood is in a “cord,” a unit of measurement describing a volume of wood. Woodcutters and those who burn wood in fireplaces or wood stoves intimately know this term, as they know how many cords of wood they need to make it through winter. Show
But what is a cord of wood, and how much wood will you need? Keep reading to learn how many cords you might need each season and how much it can typically cost. RELATED: The Best Firewood Delivery Services for Convenient Heating A cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked dry firewood.How big is a cord of wood? A cord is equivalent to 128 cubic feet of firewood. That’s the simple answer, but it still doesn’t help most homeowners who don’t know how that volume translates to actual logs. Generally, a cord of wood is 4 feet tall, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. Years ago, when wood stoves and fireplaces were custom-built, the wood was left long (4 or 8 feet long). Buyers would cut it to their desired length to fit inside their fire box, then use an axe or maul to split them into smaller chunks. Obviously, that was a lot of work. Today’s cords fortunately tend to be made up of 16-inch-long logs. This means that a full cord of wood consists of 16-inch-long logs placed in three rows until the stack is 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide.  depositphotos.com The cost of a cord of wood depends on the location, whether the wood is dry, seasonality, and the type of wood.Lucky folks have access to free wood, but most buy firewood—and pricing can be tricky. Cords in areas without densely wooded forests will cost significantly more than in the Northeast or Pacific Northwest, where forests abound. Also, a cord of dry wood might cost $250 in the summer, but when dry wood is scarce in the middle of winter, a cord may cost up to $400. Advertisement The species of wood matters as well. Oak heats very well and lasts quite a while, so it’s generally more expensive than aspen or birch. The latter two woods burn quickly and can even contain quite a bit of pitch, which can lead to dangerous creosote. This quality makes these wood less desirable but more affordable. One-third and half cords are made up of shorter lengths of wood.More accurately, one-third and half cords of wood can be made up of shorter lengths of firewood, but that isn’t always the case. In the aforementioned cords of old made up of longer logs, half and one-third-cord logs were typically 32 or 48 inches long, and the buyer would resaw them. Today, a half cord of wood may feature three rows of 16-inch-long logs in piles that are 4 feet tall, 4 feet long, and 4 feet deep. Third cords are made of two rows that total 4 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 32 inches deep. The logs’ lengths do not impact the volume of wood in a cord. Shorter logs will require more rows, but overall, a cord of firewood is just 128 cubic feet. The wood can be presented in any way that the woodcutter slices it. depositphotos.com Face cords, rick cords, and truckloads are not standard units of measure.There are a few terms in the woodcutting industry that are thrown around, specifically when marketed to homeowners. None of these terms are standard, however, so buyers need to beware when purchasing wood in these quantities. You don’t want to get less wood than you’re paying for, nor do you want to pay more for the wood you’re getting! Whether you want to know the volume of a cord of wood, or just the price, we’ve got the answer for you. My family goes through about 3 cords of wood per year. We process around 2 cords of wood for ourselves and usually end up buying in another cord. We work from home though and live in a cooler climate, so probably use more than the average household. Consider how much firewood you will need and try to buy it all in at once. This usually makes it a bit cheaper! Contents show What Is A Cord Of Wood? What Is The Volume Of A Cord of Wood? How Much Does A Cord Of Wood Cost? Location Delivery Type Of Wood Seasoned Wood Firewood Delivery Near Me What Is A Cord Of Wood?A cord is a standard unit used to measure a stacked pile of dry wood. A cord of firewood has to fit specific measurements known to all who buy and sell firewood. There are also other terms used when referring to different quantities of firewood. Such as running cord, face cord, stove cord, standing cord, or bush cord. These terms are likely to confuse a new buyer, and some sellers don’t follow the rules when selling their woods. So, we recommend you do your research before buying firewood. Ask the seller a lot of questions to know what you are getting. What Is The Volume Of A Cord of Wood?A cord of stacked firewood is:
The actual volume of wood always works out to be less than this because of air pockets between the wood. If it were possible to have zero air pockets, a cord of wood would be closer to 90 cubic feet in volume. Most often, when buying wood, you will buy it by the full cord. However, some businesses will sell their wood in fractions of a cord as well. It’s not uncommon to hear of buying a half cord or even a third of a cord of wood. You should avoid buying wood in these units:
These are terms sometimes by sellers, but they are not as accurate as official standards of measurements. Some dishonest sellers may use these words to confuse. Always use the term full cord when ordering your firewood. How Much Does A Cord Of Wood Cost?It is best to call around several operators to determine the average price of a cord of wood in your area. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $300 for a cord of seasoned hardwood delivered. However, the price will vary depending on:
LocationWhere you live plays a big part in how much a cord or rick of wood costs. Factors that can lead to firewood price fluctuation in different areas include:
Prices can vary wildly. DeliveryI’ve heard from people who live in areas where there are very few suitable trees for firewood, and they have to pay an astronomical amount of money to get it in. On the flip side, my neighbor processes and sells a lot of wood. Because I’m so close (literally next door!), he gives me a considerable discount. If you only have a miniature wood stove, such as the Cubic Grizzly (for tiny homes), you can probably pick up sufficient wood at a decent price from the likes of Home Depot or your local big box store. It’s doesn’t take much to keep these burners running. Type Of WoodThere are two types of wood, hardwood and softwood. Softwood burns fast and is much cheaper than hardwood. Softwood gives off less heat, but it is easier to start a fire. Pine is one example of softwood. Hardwoods have a denser structure compared to softwoods. The trees take a longer time to mature, making them harder over time. They are more challenging to split, but they put out a lot more heat. Gum is one example of a hardwood. I like to start my fire with softwood and then switch to hardwood once the fire is well established. This helps the fire to get well established and then burn hotter once there’s a good base. Seasoned WoodIf the firewood is seasoned, it will cost more. It takes about seven months to season firewood – depending on where you live and how you store it. Well-seasoned wood means that it has low moisture content ranging between 15% to 20%, and you can use a moisture meter for firewood to test it. Green firewood can be a bit cheaper to buy. This is fresh-cut wood that is not ready to burn, and it has a higher moisture content of about 50%. Green firewood produces more smoke when burnt and will require you to clean your chimney more frequently, unlike seasoned wood. When burning wood, you will sometimes hear popping sounds. This means your wood has a lot of moisture in it. Unseasoned wood doesn’t put out as much heat either, so it’s always best to wait until it’s ready. Sometimes you can also buy semi-seasoned firewood, which will take less time to dry. Firewood Delivery Near MeIf you’re new to buying firewood or have just moved to a new area, it’s best to ask others for recommendations on where to buy firewood. I often see people asking ‘where is the best place to buy firewood’ in my local Facebook groups. There are always one or two dealers that get mentioned again and again. Don’t be afraid to ask for complete measurement and price details from the person you are buying from – if they can’t answer your questions honestly, then move on! To get the cheapest firewood for your wood burner, buy it green a year or so in advance of when you need it. Season it yourself, and you’ll save a lot of money over time. What does a 1 2 cord of wood look like?A half cord of firewood is 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 4 feet deep. Historically each piece of wood in the cord was cut to four-foot lengths and the user would then cut it down to fireplace size.
How many pieces of wood are in a cord?Typically, a full cord will contain somewhere between 600 and 800 pieces of firewood. If the company you purchase from cuts their logs shorter, you will probably get closer to 800 pieces. And if the pieces are longer, you will probably get around 600 pieces.
How much is a cord of wood stacked?Firewood is sold by a measurement called a "cord." A cord must equal 128 cubic feet. To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or row with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other, making sure that the wood is compact and has as few gaps as possible.
What does 1 cord of wood weigh?How much does a cord of wood weigh? The weight of a cord of wood varies depending on several factors. Some factors include how dry the wood is, the specific species in the wood, and how green the wood is. However, a standard cord of wood weighs anything from 2000 to 3000 pounds.
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How much does 1 cord of wood cost
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