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I had never heard the phrase "Northern cod" when referring to wood or firewood.
In my world, a cord, is a cord, is a cord.
I've heard of face cords and all manner of trying to rip people off. a tape measure does not lie.
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What is a cord of wood?

A full cord of wood assumes that the wood is arranged in a way that all the individual pieces are stacked (aligned, parallel, touching and compact) and fit within the following dimensions: 4 feet high x 4 feet wide x 8 feet long. A cord of wood occupies a volume equivalent to: 128 cubic feet (3.62 m3).

The actual wood volume is closer to 90 cubic feet due to all the air in between the firewood.

How much wood is in a 1/2 cord? A 1/2 cord is 4′ x 4′ x 4′ which is equivalent to 64 cubic feet.

To help you understand how big a cord of wood is here are some numbers to put it in perspective:

    A full cord of wood can weigh between 2,500 lbs (softwood) to 5,000 lbs (hardwood).
    A standard piece of firewood is 16 inches (1/3 of a cord width).
    A small pick-up truck can hold approximately 1/4  cord of wood.
    A 1/2 ton short bed pick-up can hold approximately 1/2 cord of wood.
    A long bed pick-up truck with racks can hold approximately 1 cord of wood.

When buying a cord of wood be sure to ask what the overall cubic footage is because a lot of sellers will use their own lingo with their own definitions. Ask about the overall volume. Don’t assume anything. If the seller is trying to deceive you in any way, just walk away and find a reputable seller.

Many sellers online use the term “face cord” to refer to 1/3 of a cord. So, a triple (3x) face cord would equal one full cord of wood. Make sure you clarify how they define “face cord” before you buy.

the National Institute of Standards and Technology has an official document that explains what a “cord” is. You can read or download the official US Government document, entitled: Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirement for Weighing and Measuring Devices. You’ll find the information of page 115/116.

When we lived in Roselle, Ill. and had a wood burning fireplace, I built a log bin that was 4' high and 8' long inside and about 3' deep. We always ordered a Face Cord and made sure he filled the bin completely just one row deep. Expensive wood there at about 75 bucks but he also stacked it. Loved the wood burner but now in a condo and just turn on the gas and light it. Wife hates it.

Carry over from other discussion: I grew up in Vermont where we both sold and burned wood. A cord was 4x4x8 ft. When I moved to North
Texas, folks were selling a "cord" that was more in line with 4x3x6 ft. Therefore a "Northern" cord vs a "Southern" cord.

I should have known that this would stir up a controversy on this forum of wood workers.

Glenn J.

Now there is a stacked cord of wood which is nicely and properly stacked and piled cord of 4x4x8. Stacked cords sells for a little more.

Then there a cord of wood which is dumped on the homeowner's lot and they have to stack it themselves. The seller claims they pass on the savings from the labor of stacking to the homeowner.

I've seen this lately when local guys are selling wood to people moving here from NY or NJ, The new comers think they are saving a few bucks by stacking it themselves, but when properly stacked the pile measures anywhere from 4x2x8 to 4x3x8. The darn thing is they really don't even notice the discrepancy thinking a loosely jumbled pile of wood in the back of a pickup is a cord of wood.  When these new folks ask me where to get firewood from I'm sure to explain to them the difference and why they should pay a little more for a stacked cord.

Ed Weber wrote on Mar 13^th, 2018 at 10:05am:


It definitely depends on how you stack it or pile it.
I've seen the alternating method, some people call it criss cross stacking, where a few courses are stacked in on direction then one course stacked perpendicular the a few more in the original direction. There is so much wasted room it's not even funny, some say up to half is air space. Just one more dishonest practice when it comes to wood by the cord.

I had a seasonal employee that worked for me and hauled firewood in the winter months.  He told be that 4 cords unsplit would equal 5 cords split.  And of course he got more $ money for the split wood.  So if you can do the splitting yourself buy the unsplit cord.

I think where people are it is called different things.

A face cord is really half a cord of wood or what will fill up a regular truck bed level.  So if people do not ask what a face cord of wood is and it is priced almost as much as a full cord they get cheated.
I grew up in the Mountains of Colorado and a cord is a cord 8x4x4 or 4x4x8 and I sold it stacked which gave me a little more money and people who liked me doing that for them and glad to pay the extra $10 back in 1974 and I got a lot of exercise to. (Groan now that I think of it)

Now a days I see a lot of rip off artists saying what cords are and it is not even close or about little more then half a cord.

I do not know what happened to honesty now a days but I do not like it.