128 Cubic Feet Firewood (Half Cord Pricing)
A half cord is 64 cubic feet of neatly stacked firewood; 128 cubic feet is a full cord. To set a fair half-cord price, compare local offers with the same wood species, piece length, seasoning, and delivery terms. Measure the stacked wood, not a truck bed or loose pile, and list any delivery or stacking charges separately.
Firewood is sold in different ways, and that makes “half cord” a phrase worth checking before you pay or set a price. A stack can look substantial yet fall short of its stated amount. A truckload can also appear to hold a half cord without proving it does.
I use two checks when comparing firewood offers: the stated measurement basis and the condition of the wood. Those checks help you compare like with like, avoid paying a stacked-cord rate for an unmeasured load, and know what to expect at delivery.
Firewood Quantity, Measurement & Safety Preparation
A cord is a stacked volume, not a weight or a truck size. One full cord measures 128 cubic feet, including the normal spaces between stacked pieces; half a cord measures 64 cubic feet. These definitions give buyers and sellers a common starting point, but the wood’s length and condition still matter.
How to measure a half cord
A practical example of 64 cubic feet is a stack 4 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep. Measure the outside length, height, and depth in feet, then multiply them: length × height × depth. The result is the stack’s approximate volume in cubic feet.
- 4 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft = 64 ft³, or half a cord
- 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft = 128 ft³, or one full cord
- 2 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft = 64 ft³, or half a cord
Keep the pieces neatly stacked when measuring. A loose heap has irregular gaps and cannot be treated as an equal amount of stacked wood just by measuring its outside dimensions. Truck-bed volume is not a reliable substitute for stacked volume either. If a seller quotes a loose-thrown load, ask how the quantity is measured and whether a conversion is being used.
Piece length affects how the wood fits in your stove, fireplace, or storage area, but it does not change the definition of a cord. For instance, a stack of shorter pieces may be deeper than a stack of longer pieces while holding the same measured volume. Confirm the length before agreeing to buy.
Prepare for a safe handoff
Firewood buying and selling involve lifting, cutting, and vehicle loading. Before delivery, agree on where the wood will be placed and whether the price includes stacking. If processing is part of the job, the operator should use suitable saw equipment and personal protective equipment, secure logs before cutting, inspect the work area, and keep bystanders clear.
Vehicle capacity matters too. Wet or dense wood can place a heavy load on a truck or trailer, so volume alone does not establish a safe payload. Check the vehicle’s rated limits, distribute and secure the load, and avoid assuming that a bed full of wood is within those limits. Agree on quantity and access before the truck arrives.
Cutting, Stacking, Delivery & Field Execution
A clear order of work reduces disputes: define the product, measure the stack, and agree on delivery before cutting or loading begins. For a half cord, the target is 64 cubic feet stacked. Cutting and delivery must also suit the wood length, the site, and the equipment’s rated capacity.
Define the wood before setting a price
Describe the species or mix, piece length, split size, and seasoning condition. “Mixed hardwood” can mean different things from one seller to another, so ask which species are included. Species, dryness, and piece size can all affect the buyer’s experience and the value of an offer.
Be specific about “seasoned.” It is a broad sales term unless the seller explains what it means for that load. A moisture reading on a freshly split face gives more useful information than a vague claim, but readings depend on correct meter use. If a buyer needs wood below 20% moisture content, state that threshold and how it will be checked.
Stack, measure, and deliver
I recommend measuring the sale quantity as a stack whenever possible. Stack the agreed wood, measure its outside dimensions in feet, and record the calculation. If delivery is priced before the wood is stacked, write down the measurement basis and make clear whether the quantity is stacked, loose-thrown, or estimated.
A sensible sequence is:
- Agree on species or mix, piece length, split size, and moisture condition.
- Confirm whether the quantity will be measured stacked or by another disclosed method.
- Stack and measure to verify 64 cubic feet for a half cord.
- State delivery, stacking, and tax charges separately.
- At handoff, confirm the quantity and condition; document any shortfall or species substitution.
For delivery, also agree on access, placement, and whether the driver can safely reach the drop point. If the site cannot take a truck close to the stack location, that may change the labor or stacking charge. Put that cost in the quote rather than leaving it open until delivery.
Common field scenarios
These examples show how the same quantity can produce different offers. They are comparison scenarios, not local price quotes; actual prices depend on the market and the agreed product.
| Scenario | What is being sold | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Stacked half cord | 64 ft³ of neatly stacked wood | Stack dimensions and wood details |
| Truck-bed estimate | A load described by bed size | Measurement basis; do not assume it equals 64 ft³ stacked |
| Loose-thrown load | Wood tipped or tossed into a space | Disclosed method and any locally accepted conversion |
| Full cord labeled “half” | 128 ft³ of stacked wood | Correct the description: it is a full cord by standard volume |
A 128-cubic-foot stack must not be advertised as a half cord. Conversely, a loose load should not be represented as 64 cubic feet stacked unless it is restacked and measured or sold under an explicitly disclosed, locally accepted conversion. Local rules or customary sales terms may vary, so check them when selling.
Measurement Verification, Quality Control & Pricing
A defensible half-cord price starts with a verified 64-cubic-foot quantity and a clear product description. Divide a local full-cord price by two only when the species mix, piece length, seasoning, delivery, and stacking terms are equivalent. If any of those differ, compare the offers by their stated terms instead.
Build a comparable quote
A useful quote names the wood, the amount, how it is measured, and what the buyer pays for delivery or stacking. Taxes should also be clear. Without these details, two prices that look comparable may cover different products.
| Quote item | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Quantity | Half cord, with 64 ft³ stacked as the measurement basis |
| Species | Named species or a clear description of the mix |
| Piece length | Length in inches or feet |
| Condition | Seasoned status and how moisture is checked, if relevant |
| Delivery | Included or separate charge |
| Stacking | Included, optional, or not offered |
| Taxes and fees | Listed separately where applicable |
To set a dollar amount, collect local offers for the same quantity and comparable terms. Do not use a national average or an unrelated full-cord listing as if it were a precise local quote. If one seller includes delivery and another does not, compare the total cost after adding the stated charges.
Check the quantity at delivery
Measure the outside of the neatly stacked load in feet. Multiply length, height, and depth, then compare the result with 64 cubic feet. A stack’s real shape may not form a perfect rectangle; in that case, use the dimensions of the overall stack and discuss the method before the sale.
If the buyer and seller measure differently, pause and compare the dimensions together. Record the agreed result and any change in species or condition. A clear record is more useful than an argument based on how large the pile looks.
Moisture is a separate quality check, not a volume measure. For a moisture reading, follow the meter maker’s instructions; commonly, the buyer splits a piece and checks the fresh inner face. If a quote promises wood under 20%, agree on where and how readings will be taken. A single reading should not be treated as a guarantee for every piece unless the terms say so.
Storage, Seasoning & Seasonal Care
Storage does not alter the cord definition, but it can affect the wood’s condition between sale and use. Keep the stack stable, allow air to move around it, and protect it from prolonged wetting while avoiding a cover that traps moisture. Confirm whether the seller’s seasoning claim applies at delivery or at a later date.
Keep the quantity and condition clear
A half cord stored as a compact 4-by-4-by-4-foot stack is easy to describe, but the stack may settle or shift. If you are checking volume after storage, restack neatly before measuring. Loose pieces on the ground or a partially scattered stack do not provide the same measurement basis as a neat stack.
Drying time varies with species, piece size, weather, and how the wood is stacked. A seller should avoid promising a specific drying period without explaining the conditions behind it. For buyers who need a moisture threshold, ask for a reading method and check the delivered wood with a suitable meter.
When comparing prices for winter fuel, keep quantity and condition separate in your notes. A lower price for an unverified loose load is not automatically a better deal than a measured stack. Compare the delivered amount, wood type, piece length, and condition first.
Bottom line: half a cord means 64 cubic feet stacked; 128 cubic feet stacked is a full cord. Measure the stack, define the wood, and compare local prices only when the product and service terms match.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in half a cord?
A half cord is 64 cubic feet of neatly stacked firewood, including normal gaps between pieces.
Is 128 cubic feet a half cord?
No. A stacked volume of 128 cubic feet is one full cord. A half cord is 64 cubic feet.
What is one example of a half-cord stack?
A stack measuring 4 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep holds 64 cubic feet by its outside dimensions.
How do I calculate the volume of stacked firewood?
Measure the stack’s outside length, height, and depth in feet. Multiply those three measurements to get cubic feet.
Can I measure a half cord by truck-bed size?
Not reliably. A truck bed or loose load does not show the stacked volume. Ask for the measurement basis, or restack and measure the wood.
Should a half cord cost half as much as a full cord?
Only when the wood, piece length, seasoning, delivery, and stacking terms are equivalent. Otherwise, compare the actual terms and charges.
What should a half-cord firewood quote include?
It should state quantity and measurement basis, species or mix, piece length, seasoning condition, delivery and stacking charges, and applicable taxes.
Can loose-thrown firewood be sold as 64 cubic feet?
Not as 64 cubic feet stacked unless it is restacked and measured. A loose-load conversion must be disclosed and should follow locally accepted terms.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Samuel Vance. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
