What is a cord of wood?

If you are new to heating with wood fuel, you may be wondering, ‘what exactly is a cord of wood?’ A cord of wood is a stack of wood 8 ft long by 4 feet high by 4 feet deep. In total, it is 128 cubic feet of wood. In the US and Canada, it is the main unit of measure for buying and selling wood fuel. A home may burn anywhere from 2 cords to 10 cords in a given winter, depending on how large the house is, how well insulated it is, what your climate is like, and how toasty you like it.

The cost of a cord of wood also depends on many factors, including your location, the type of wood, and whether you purchase it pre-split or split it yourself. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $250 per cord, including delivery to your house. Be sure that the wood you order is seasoned (dried), unless you are prepared to let it sit and season for about a year. Green wood (which is freshly cut and hasn’t been dried) either will not burn or will burn very inefficiently and really should be left to season before burning.