Face cord as a fraction of a cord
A face cord has the same face as a full cord, 4 ft by 8 ft (32 square feet), but its depth is one piece. The cubic feet are 32 × piece length in feet.
| Piece length | Cubic feet | Fraction of a cord | Face cords per full cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 32.0 | 0.25 | 4.00 |
| 14 in | 37.3 | 0.292 | 3.43 |
| 16 in | 42.7 | 0.333 | 3.00 |
| 18 in | 48.0 | 0.375 | 2.67 |
| 20 in | 53.3 | 0.417 | 2.40 |
| 24 in | 64.0 | 0.5 | 2.00 |
With 16 inch pieces a face cord is 42.7 cubic feet, a third of a cord. With 12 inch pieces it is 32 cubic feet, a quarter. The term rick and stove cord mean much the same thing in some regions, but they are local words with no fixed size, so ask the seller for the dimensions.
What a face cord should cost
Price scales with volume. If a full cord is priced at C, a 16 inch face cord should be about C ÷ 3, plus a little for the extra handling of a small delivery. This table converts a cord price into the price of each unit:
| Full cord price | Face cord, 16 in | Face cord, 12 in | Half cord | Per cubic foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | $50 | $38 | $75 | $1.17 |
| $200 | $67 | $50 | $100 | $1.56 |
| $250 | $83 | $62 | $125 | $1.95 |
| $300 | $100 | $75 | $150 | $2.34 |
| $400 | $133 | $100 | $200 | $3.12 |
| $500 | $167 | $125 | $250 | $3.91 |
Spotting short measure
Suppose a seller offers a face cord of 16 inch wood for $120. That is $360 per cord, even though $120 looks small. Always turn the price into a price per full cord, or per cubic foot, before comparing. And measure the stack: the height, the length and the piece length.
Use the firewood cord calculator to check a stack. For the full definition, see cord of firewood dimensions, and for the money side, how much a cord of firewood costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is a face cord the same as a rick?
Often, in everyday use, but both are local terms. Both mean a stack one piece deep, so ask for the dimensions.
How many face cords are in a full cord?
Three, when the pieces are 16 inches long. Four with 12 inch pieces.
How much is a face cord compared with a cord?
A third with 16 inch pieces and a quarter with 12 inch pieces.
Sources
- Northern Woodlands: A cord is a cord is a cord
- University of Maryland Extension: Buying and Storing Firewood (FS-937)