Cord vs. Face Cord vs. Rick, Explained Honestly
Firewood is one of the few things Americans still buy in units most buyers can't define. That confusion costs people money every fall. Here's the full picture.
The cord: the only legal standard
A cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked firewood. The classic image is a stack 4 feet high × 8 feet long × 4 feet deep (4×8×4 = 128), but any dimensions that multiply to 128 cubic feet qualify.
Two things buyers miss:
- Stacked, not solid. Air gaps between pieces mean a cord holds roughly 80–85 cubic feet of actual wood. A loosely thrown pile measuring 128 cubic feet is not a cord.
- It's the legal unit. Most states require firewood to be advertised and sold by the cord or a fraction of a cord. Sellers offering only "truckloads" or "piles" are often (not always) dodging the standard.
The face cord: one-third of a cord
A face cord is a stack 4 feet high × 8 feet long × one piece deep — with standard 16-inch pieces, that's 4×8×1.33 ft ≈ 42.7 cubic feet, or exactly one-third of a cord. Three face cords = one cord. Simple, as long as the pieces are actually 16 inches.
The catch: face cords only equal ⅓ cord at 16-inch length. If the pieces are 12 inches, a "face cord" is only a quarter cord. Always ask the piece length.
The rick: the trap
A rick generally means one row of a stack — typically 4 feet high × 8 feet long, with depth equal to whatever the seller cut. In most of the US, a rick of 16-inch wood is a face cord. But "rick" has no legal definition, and the dimensions drift by region and seller. Some ricks are 4×8 feet; others are whatever fit in the seller's truck.
Rule: never buy by the rick without confirming all three dimensions in writing. Better yet, ask for the price per cord and do the math yourself.
Other terms you'll hear
- Truckload / pickup load: meaningless without bed dimensions. A full-size 8-ft bed heaped 2 feet high is roughly half a cord thrown — far less stacked.
- Stove cord: usually means cut to stove length (16″); sometimes used to mean a face cord. Ask.
- Loose-thrown cord: some states define this (often ~180 cubic feet loose = 128 stacked). If your state does, the seller should say so.
How to not get shorted
- Ask for the price per cord, delivered and stacked (or specify).
- Confirm piece length — it changes every fractional unit.
- Measure on delivery: a tape measure and 30 seconds settle every argument.
- Pay for seasoned wood deliberately (see our seasoning guide), not by accident — green wood weighs more and heats less.
Try it: measure any stack with our cord calculator and see exactly what you're getting.