Face Cord vs Full Cord: Volume, Price & Legal Rules
A full cord is 128 cubic feet of ranked, well-stowed wood — 4 ft high, 8 ft long, 4 ft deep. A face cord (also called a rick) keeps the 4 ft × 8 ft face and cuts the depth down to a single log length, so its volume depends entirely on how long the pieces were cut. At 16 inches a face cord is exactly 42.67 cu ft, or one-third of a cord; at 12 inches it’s one-quarter; at 24 inches it’s one-half. That’s the whole problem: the same $160 face cord works out to $480, $640, or $320 per full cord depending on a number many sellers don’t volunteer.
| Factor | Full Cord | Face Cord (Rick) |
|---|---|---|
| Exact volume | 128 cubic feet, ranked and well stowed — fixed by definition | 32 sq ft (the 4 ft × 8 ft face) × log length in feet. A 16-inch face cord is 32 × 1.33 = 42.67 cu ft |
| Standard stacked dimensions | 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 4 ft deep (4 × 8 × 4 = 128 cu ft) | 4 ft high × 8 ft long × one log deep (typically 12–24 in). Only the depth varies |
| Legal status (US) | The only firewood unit with a legal definition in most US states. NIST Handbook 130 — a model regulation states adopt individually — sets the cord at 128 cu ft, and most states require fuel wood be sold by the cord or a fraction of one (quantities under 1/8 cord may be sold by cubic measure) | Not standardized nationally. NIST Handbook 130 states the terms face cord, rack, pile and truckload “shall not be used” in selling fuel wood; states adopting it, such as Connecticut, ban the term outright |
| Wisconsin exception (ATCP 91) | Defined as 128 cu ft, ranked and well stowed | Genuinely legal here, with a condition: Wisconsin’s ATCP 91 method-of-sale rules permit “face cord” only if it is qualified by a statement of the piece length |
| Fraction of a full cord by log length | Always 1.00 cord, by definition | 12-inch = 1/4 cord (32 cu ft); 16-inch = exactly 1/3 cord (42.67 cu ft); 24-inch = 1/2 cord (64 cu ft) |
| Typical 2026 delivered price | $275–$400 for split, seasoned hardwood delivered; national average near $325. Softwood runs $175–$275 | $110–$200 delivered for a 16-inch face cord, around $150 typical. Delivery adds $25–$100 beyond about 15 miles; stacking $20–$80 |
| Price per full-cord equivalent | $325 delivered is $325/cord — equal to $108.33 per 16-inch face cord ($325 ÷ 3) | $160 × 3 = $480/cord at 16 inches. That same $160 is $640/cord at 12 inches and $320/cord at 24 inches — a 2× spread behind an identical price tag |
| Household use per season | 3–6 cords as a primary heat source; a 1,500 sq ft home in a cold climate burns 3–4.5 cords. Supplemental stove use runs 1.5–2 cords | 9–18 sixteen-inch face cords for primary heat (3 cords = 9 face cords). Occasional weekend fires: about 1–2 face cords per winter |
| How to verify a delivery | Restack 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 4 ft deep. Volume ÷ 128 = cords delivered. Anything under 128 cu ft is a short cord | Measure height × length × actual log depth in feet, then divide by 128. A 4 × 8 stack of true 16-inch wood must measure 42.67 cu ft — if the pieces are really 14 inches, you received 0.29 cord, not the 1/3 you paid for |
| Best for | Anyone burning more than roughly one cord a season, and the only unit that lets you compare two quotes on equal terms | Small stoves, fire pits, tight storage, or a trial load from an unfamiliar supplier — provided you convert the price first |
Our Verdict
Buy in full cords, or convert every quote to a per-full-cord price before comparing. The conversion is one step: divide the face cord price by the log length in feet, then multiply by 4. A $160 face cord of 16-inch wood is $480 per cord — about 48% above the $325 national average for a delivered full cord, even though $160 sounds like the cheaper number. Always ask the log length before agreeing on a price and get it written on the receipt (Wisconsin’s ATCP 91 method-of-sale rules require the seller to state it; most states require the sale be quoted in cords regardless). Then measure the stack on delivery: height × length × depth in feet, divided by 128, is what you actually bought.