What is a cord of firewood?

A standard cord of firewood is a stack measuring 4 feet wide × 4 feet high × 8 feet long = 128 cubic feet. A "face cord" (or "rick") is one layer of a cord: 4×8 feet wide/tall but only 16" deep (typical cut length), equaling about 1/3 of a full cord.

BTU content by wood type

Wood type	BTU per cord (millions)	Burn quality
Black locust	26.8	Excellent; hot, long burn
Hickory	25.4	Excellent; very hot, long burn
Oak (white)	24.2	Excellent; dense, slow burn
Apple	23.5	Very good; fragrant
Maple (hard)	24.0	Very good
Birch	18.9	Good; burns bright and fast
Pine	14.3	Fair; creosote buildup risk

Softwood vs. hardwood

Softwoods (pine, fir, spruce) ignite easily, burn quickly, and produce intense heat. They are excellent for kindling and starting fires but burn through faster and produce more creosote, increasing chimney fire risk. Hardwoods (oak, hickory, maple) are denser, burn longer, and produce more coals for sustained heat output. For an efficient wood stove or fireplace, start with softwood kindling and add hardwood once the fire is established.

Seasoning requirements

Freshly cut (green) wood contains 50–60% moisture by weight. Burning wet wood wastes energy vaporizing that moisture, produces excessive smoke, and creates significant creosote buildup in chimneys. Wood should be split and stacked to dry for:

Softwoods: 6–12 months
Medium hardwoods (birch, cherry): 12–18 months
Dense hardwoods (oak, hickory): 18–24 months

Well-seasoned wood has moisture content below 20% (test with a moisture meter).

Wood storage tips

Stack wood off the ground (use pallets or a rack) to prevent ground moisture absorption and rot.
Cover only the top of the stack - leave the sides open to allow airflow for continued drying.
Stack bark-side up to shed rain and speed drying.
Store wood away from your home to avoid bringing insects and pests indoors.