What Is a Face Cord of Firewood?
Sellers price firewood in face cords because most buyers do not need 128 cubic feet at once. Here is what the measurement really means, how it shifts with log length, and how to make sure you are not paying full-cord money for one third of a cord.
A face cord is a stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long, with logs cut to the standard 16 inches. That is 42.7 cubic feet of stacked wood, exactly one third of a full 128-cubic-foot cord. Three face cords equal one full cord, and the log length is the detail that changes everything.
The short answer: 42.7 cubic feet
A face cord is one face of a full cord stack: 4 feet high and 8 feet long. The depth is whatever length the logs are cut to, and the standard is 16 inches. Multiply it out: 4 x 8 x 1.33 feet equals 42.7 cubic feet of stacked wood. A full cord is 128 cubic feet, and 128 divided by 42.7 is exactly 3. So three face cords make one full cord, as long as the logs are cut to 16 inches.
The math, step by step
The face cord formula is the same volume math as a full cord, just with a shorter depth:
Face cord cubic feet = height x length x log length (all in feet)
Standard: 4 ft x 8 ft x 1.33 ft (16 in) = 42.7 cubic feet
Cords: 42.7 / 128 = 0.333 cords
Run any stack through this before you pay. A tape measure and this one division are the whole buyer-protection kit.
Log length changes everything
Face cord is only one third of a cord when the logs are 16 inches. Cut them shorter or longer and the volume swings a lot:
12 inch logs: 4 x 8 x 1.0 = 32 cubic feet, or 0.25 cords. One quarter of a cord.
16 inch logs: 4 x 8 x 1.33 = 42.7 cubic feet, or 0.333 cords. The standard.
18 inch logs: 4 x 8 x 1.5 = 48 cubic feet, or 0.375 cords.
24 inch logs: 4 x 8 x 2.0 = 64 cubic feet, or 0.5 cords. Half a cord.
This is where buyers get quietly shorted. An ad that says "face cord $100" with 12 inch logs is selling you 32 cubic feet, not 42.7. That is $100 for a quarter cord, or $400 per full cord. Always ask the log length, because the seller is counting on you not to.
Face cord vs full cord
A full cord is 4 feet high, 8 feet long, and 4 feet deep: 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. A face cord is the same 4 x 8 face but only one log deep. Think of the full cord as the whole bookshelf and the face cord as one shelf.
The practical difference is price comparison. A $360 full cord and a $120 face cord are the same price per unit ($120 x 3 = $360). If the face cord costs more than one third of the full cord price, the full cord is the better deal, assuming you have room to store it.
Face cord vs rick
In most of the South and Midwest, sellers say "rick" instead of "face cord." They mean the same stack: 4 x 8 feet, one log deep. The difference is legal, not physical. A cord has a legal definition in most states; a rick has none anywhere. Two sellers' ricks can be different sizes, so the word alone protects nobody.
How many logs are in a face cord?
It depends on the log diameter, but here is a working estimate. A 4 x 8 foot face has 32 square feet of area. A 4 inch round log has a cross section of about 0.087 square feet. Stacked roundwood fills roughly 70 percent of the face area, the rest is air gaps. So 32 x 0.70 / 0.087 gives about 257 pieces. In practice, expect 200 to 300 split pieces per standard face cord, more if the splits are small and the stacking is tight.
Buying checklist
Ask three questions before money changes hands: What is the log length? Is the price for a full 4 x 8 face? Is the wood stacked or loose? Then convert the price to per-cord terms with 128 divided by the cubic feet. If a $110 face cord with 16 inch logs comes out to $330 per cord and the advertised full cord is $300, buy the full cord or negotiate the face cord down.
Skip the arithmetic
Got the dimensions of a stack you are buying? Our free calculator turns length, height, and depth in feet into exact cords and face cords, so you can check any seller's numbers in seconds.
Face cord questions
How many face cords are in a full cord?
Three. A full cord is 128 cubic feet and a standard face cord (4 x 8 feet with 16 inch logs) is 42.7 cubic feet. 128 divided by 42.7 equals exactly 3, so three face cords make one full cord when the logs are cut to 16 inches.
How big is a face cord in feet?
The face is 4 feet high and 8 feet long, and the depth is the log length, standard 16 inches. That works out to 42.7 cubic feet, or one third of a full cord. With 12 inch logs it is only 32 cubic feet; with 24 inch logs it is 64.
Is a face cord the same as a rick?
Physically, yes in most regions: both mean a 4 x 8 foot stack one log deep. Legally, no: neither term has the legal definition that a cord does, so confirm the log length and the face dimensions before buying, no matter which word the seller uses.
How much should a face cord of firewood cost?
In most regions, $75 to $150 for seasoned hardwood, split and delivered. Multiply by 3 to compare with full-cord pricing: a $120 face cord is $360 per cord, so a $300 full cord is the better buy. Prices run higher in cities and lower in rural timber areas.
How many logs are in a face cord?
Roughly 200 to 300 split pieces for standard 16 inch logs around 4 inches in diameter. Smaller splits and tighter stacking push the count up; large rounds push it down. Count matters less than measured volume: a true 4 x 8 face at the right log length is a face cord regardless of piece count.