Cord & Volume Converter
This tool was built by Serge (MSc) using established science and government sources. My academic background covers Biogeochemistry, Forest Science, Environmental Biology, and Plant Biology, and my field research directly measured soil carbon and tree growth in open-air experiments. My tools are for educational purposes and give practical guidance, not professional advice.
Firewood is sold in units that confuse buyers: full cords, face cords, cubic metres, and stère. This converter turns any of them into the others, so you know exactly what you are buying and can compare prices fairly. These are exact volume conversions, not estimates.
How This Works
Every unit here is a measure of stacked volume, so they convert exactly. A full cord is a stack 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet, which is 128 cubic feet, or about 3.62 cubic metres. A face cord is one third of a full cord, a stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long but only one log deep. A stère is simply one cubic metre. The converter takes your amount, turns it into cubic feet as a common base, then expresses it in every unit.
Understanding Your Result
Use this to compare offers on equal terms. A seller quoting a price per face cord looks cheaper than one quoting per full cord, but a face cord is only a third of the wood. Convert both to the same unit and the true price becomes clear. Always confirm what a seller means by their unit before you pay, since a face cord depth can vary with how long the logs are cut.
Important Note
The volume conversions here are exact. What is not fixed is the face cord, because its depth depends on log length. A face cord is traditionally one third of a full cord when logs are cut to about 16 inches, which is the value used here. If your logs are cut shorter or longer, the face cord holds less or more wood, so always ask the seller the log length. The amount of usable wood in any stack also varies with how tightly it is stacked and how straight the pieces are.
Scientific Basis
The full cord is a defined unit of measure. In the United States it is set in law as 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. The National Institute of Standards and Technology publishes the official definitions of the cord and rules for selling firewood. See the official source below.
- NIST, Firewood and Fireplace Products (official definition and sale rules for the cord)
Related Reading
For how to work out how much firewood you need and avoid the cord versus face cord trap, see my guide How Much Firewood Do I Actually Need, and my firewood articles.
This converter is for general educational use. The volume conversions are exact, but the usable wood in a stack depends on log length, stacking, and piece shape. Confirm units with your seller before buying.