Calculator
Face Cord Calculator: Cords, Cubic Feet and m³
A face cord has no fixed size: it depends on how long the pieces are. Convert any amount, and see how to write it so the quantity is legal.
Last reviewed November 2, 20264 min readBy Lorne Wanamaker, firewood seller
On this page· Convert face cords, cords, cubic feet and m³
Convert face cords, cords, cubic feet and m³
Enter an amount and the piece length. Add a price to see what it comes to per full cord, which is the fair way to compare sellers.
- Full cords
- 1/3
- Face cords of 16 in
- 1
- Cubic feet
- 42.7
- Stacked m³
- 1.21
Write it like this: 1/3 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³) of 16-inch wood.
How big is a face cord?
A face cord is a stack 4 ft high and 8 ft long, as deep as the pieces are long. So its size changes with the piece length. Only a 16-inch face cord is a third of a cord.
| Piece length | Cubic feet | Fraction of a cord | Stacked m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 32 | 1/4 | 0.91 |
| 14 in | 37.3 | 0.29 | 1.06 |
| 16 in | 42.7 | 1/3 | 1.21 |
| 18 in | 48 | 3/8 | 1.36 |
| 20 in | 53.3 | 5/12 | 1.51 |
| 24 in | 64 | 1/2 | 1.81 |
12 in
- Cubic feet
- 32
- Fraction of a cord
- 1/4
- Stacked m³
- 0.91
14 in
- Cubic feet
- 37.3
- Fraction of a cord
- 0.29
- Stacked m³
- 1.06
16 in
- Cubic feet
- 42.7
- Fraction of a cord
- 1/3
- Stacked m³
- 1.21
18 in
- Cubic feet
- 48
- Fraction of a cord
- 3/8
- Stacked m³
- 1.36
20 in
- Cubic feet
- 53.3
- Fraction of a cord
- 5/12
- Stacked m³
- 1.51
24 in
- Cubic feet
- 64
- Fraction of a cord
- 1/2
- Stacked m³
- 1.81
Two sellers can both sell "a face cord" and one can be twice the size of the other: a 24-inch face cord is 64 cubic feet, a 12-inch one is 32.
Face cord vs full cord
A cord is the wood that fits in 128 cubic feet when it is stacked tight, pieces side by side and parallel1. A stack 4 ft high, 4 ft deep and 8 ft long holds exactly that.
Price per full cord is the honest comparison. $140 for a 16-inch face cord is $420 a full cord, because three 16-inch face cords make one cord. The calculator above does this for any length.
Is it legal to sell a face cord?
In Canada, bulk firewood may only be sold by the stacked cubic metre, the cubic foot, or the cord (128 cubic feet) and fractions of a cord2. Measurement Canada calls "face cord" and "stove cord" illegal terms, used by some sellers for a quantity smaller than 128 cubic feet, and recommends selling by the stacked cubic metre2.
In the US, NIST Handbook 130, the model rule states can adopt, says fireplace and stove wood is sold only by measure, by the cord or the cubic metre, and that "face cord", "rack", "pile" and "truckload" are not to be used when advertising or selling it1. Each state adopts its own version, so check with your state weights and measures office.
How to write it legally
Keep the word your customers know, and put the legal quantity first. For example: 1/3 cord (42.7 cu ft, 1.21 m³) of 16-inch wood, the size most people call a face cord. Use it on the price list, the ad and the receipt.
- Bagged, boxed or strapped wood in Canada: the label shows the product name, the seller’s name and address, and the quantity. Strapped wood takes a hang tag on the straps2.
- US delivery ticket under Handbook 130: the seller’s and buyer’s names and addresses, the delivery date, the quantity, the price and the kind of wood1.
- US packages under 1/8 cord (16 cubic feet) show the quantity in liters, and may add cubic feet1.
Questions
How many cubic feet are in a face cord?
It depends on the piece length: 32 cubic feet at 12 inches, 42.7 at 16 inches, 64 at 24 inches. Use the calculator for any other length.
What is the difference between a face cord and a cord?
A cord is a fixed 128 cubic feet1. A face cord is 4 ft by 8 ft by the piece length, so it is a third of a cord only when the pieces are 16 inches.
Is it legal to sell a face cord?
In Canada, "face cord" is an illegal term; the legal units are the stacked cubic metre, the cubic foot and the cord or its fractions2. In US states that follow NIST Handbook 130, "face cord" is not to be used either1. Write the legal quantity, and add the familiar word after it.
How many cubic metres are in a cord?
About 3.62 stacked cubic metres. Measurement Canada gives 1 m³ as 35.3 cubic feet2, and a cord is 128 cubic feet.
Sources
- 1.Handbook 130 (2026), Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities, §2.4 Fireplace and Stove Wood, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ↩
- 2.Selling firewood, Measurement Canada ↩
Changes to this page
- : First published.
General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and depend on your situation: check with an accountant before you act on it.
