How Much Is a Cord of Wood? Price & Value Calculator
Estimate the fair market price of a cord of firewood by species, seasoning, and delivery distance. Get burn-time and value-for-money guidance in seconds.
Wondering how much is a cord of wood in 2026? A full cord measures 128 cubic feet (typically a 4x4x8 ft stack) and ranges from about $220 for green softwood up to $650+ for kiln-dried hardwood delivered and stacked. This calculator estimates a fair price based on species, moisture content, delivery distance, and whether the seller stacks for you. It also projects how many weeks of heating the cord buys based on your usage so you can judge value, not just sticker price.
For context, a household using a wood stove as a primary heat source typically burns 3 to 5 cords per winter, while occasional fireplace users may finish only half a cord. Seasoned oak averages about 24 million BTU per cord, while pine delivers closer to 15 million BTU, so paying $400 for oak is often cheaper per BTU than $280 for pine. Enter your details below to see your projected total cost, cost per million BTU, and a value rating tailored to your heating pattern.
How it works: Pick your wood species, moisture level, delivery distance, and weekly usage. The calculator returns a fair price band, total project cost, burn duration, and a value-for-money score.
Never burn wood above 20% moisture indoors — it creates creosote that causes chimney fires; the CSIA reports over 22,000 chimney-related fires annually in the U.S., most linked to underseasoned wood. Do not store firewood directly against your house or within 20 feet of it — this invites termites, carpenter ants, and rodents into your structure. If a seller refuses to provide exact stacked dimensions, walk away. A 'truckload' is not a unit of measure and is the single most common source of firewood overcharging. Always verify a delivered cord by stacking and measuring it; you have 24–48 hours in most states to dispute volume shortfalls under weights-and-measures regulations.
Cord of Wood Pricing Guide: What You Should Pay in 2026
Firewood pricing varies wildly by species, dryness, region, and delivery — here is how to read a quote and judge whether it is a fair deal.
Average Cord Prices by Species and Seasoning (2026, delivered within 15 miles)
| Wood type | Green ($) | Seasoned ($) | Kiln-dried ($) | BTU per cord (M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak (red/white) | $266 | $380 | $475 | 24 |
| Hickory / Ash | $245 | $350 | $438 | 22 |
| Maple / Birch | $231 | $330 | $413 | 20 |
| Mixed hardwood | $210 | $300 | $375 | 19 |
| Pine / Fir | $168 | $240 | $300 | 15 |
| Cedar / Spruce | $154 | $220 | $275 | 13 |
Regional Price Multipliers and Typical Delivered Cord (Seasoned Hardwood)
| Region | Multiplier | Typical delivered cord | Free delivery radius |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (NY, MA, VT) | 1.20x | $420–$520 | 10 mi |
| Midwest (OH, IL, MI) | 1.00x | $320–$400 | 15 mi |
| Southeast (GA, NC, TN) | 0.90x | $270–$360 | 20 mi |
| Mountain West (CO, MT) | 1.10x | $360–$460 | 10 mi |
| Pacific NW (WA, OR) | 0.95x | $280–$380 | 15 mi |
Cord Sizes: What You Are Actually Buying
| Name | Dimensions | Cubic feet | Fraction of full cord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft | 128 cu ft | 1.00 |
| Face cord / rick | 4 ft x 8 ft x 16 in | ~43 cu ft | ~0.33 |
| Half cord | 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft | 64 cu ft | 0.50 |
| Truckload (pickup) | Varies (often 0.5 cord) | ~60 cu ft | ~0.45 |
| Stove cord (12 in pieces) | 4 ft x 8 ft x 12 in | ~32 cu ft | ~0.25 |
What Is a Cord of Wood, Exactly?
A legal full cord is a stack measuring 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 8 feet long — 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood. Anything smaller (face cord, rick, truckload, stove cord) is a fraction of that volume. The single most common firewood scam is selling a 'cord' that is actually a face cord, which is only about one-third the volume. Always ask for the exact stacked dimensions before agreeing to a price. If a seller cannot quote the dimensions clearly, walk away — every legitimate dealer measures in standard cord units.
How Much Should You Pay per Cord?
In 2026, expect to pay $220–$300 for softwood, $300–$400 for seasoned mixed hardwood, and $380–$500+ for premium seasoned oak, hickory, or kiln-dried wood. Delivery within 10–15 miles is typically included, and stacking adds $40–$120. As a rule of thumb, anything below $18 per million BTU is a strong deal, $18–$25 is fair, and above $25 means you are likely overpaying or buying underseasoned wood. The calculator above benchmarks your quote against these tiers automatically.
Why Moisture Content Matters More Than Species
Wood at 30%+ moisture (green) can lose half its usable heat to evaporating water and produces dangerous creosote buildup in chimneys. EPA guidance and most stove manufacturers recommend burning wood at under 20% moisture. A $250 cord of green oak is actually more expensive than a $380 cord of seasoned oak once you factor in lost BTU and chimney cleaning. Buy a $20 moisture meter and test the inside face of a freshly split piece — if it reads above 22%, the wood is not ready for this season's burn.
How Many Cords Will You Actually Burn?
Heating load drives everything. A weekend fireplace user burning 4–8 hours per week will finish 0.3–0.6 cords in a season. A supplemental wood stove running 20–30 hours per week consumes 1.5–2.5 cords. A primary heat source running 60–100+ hours weekly in a cold-climate home burns 4–6 cords. If your insulation is poor or your home exceeds 2,500 sq ft, add 25%. Buying a full season's supply at once usually saves 10–20% versus topping up mid-winter when local supply tightens and prices spike.
How Calculator Inputs Change Your Result
Each input alters the result in a predictable way: switching from pine to oak roughly doubles BTU-per-cord and raises base price by about 55%. Moving from seasoned to kiln-dried adds 25% to the price but unlocks immediate use. Each mile beyond the free-delivery radius adds about $3, so a 40-mile delivery can quietly add $75 to a quote. Increasing weekly burn hours does not change price but shortens the projected duration; cutting hours in half doubles how many weeks the cord lasts. The value rating combines all of these into one BTU-per-dollar score.
Common Mistakes When Buying Firewood
First, never pay cash up front for wood sight-unseen — reputable dealers deliver, then collect. Second, beware of 'truckload' pricing without dimensions; a half-ton pickup holds about half a cord, not a full one. Third, do not assume 'seasoned' on Craigslist actually means seasoned — many sellers split wood the week before listing. Fourth, order between April and August when prices are 15–25% lower than November peak. Finally, if the wood is heavy, makes a dull thud when struck, or shows no end-grain cracking, it is not seasoned regardless of what the seller claims.
Cord, Face Cord, Rick, and Truckload Decoded
Terminology is the most common point of pricing confusion. A 'rick' or 'face cord' is one row 16 inches deep (the length of a typical split), so it is roughly one-third of a full cord. A 'half cord' is genuinely 64 cubic feet. A pickup truck bed (6 ft) heaped level can hold around 0.5 cord, while an 8-ft long bed heaped can approach 0.7 cord — never a full cord, despite seller claims. Always convert any quote into dollars per full cord before comparing across sellers.
How This Calculator Works: Methodology & Parameter Explanations
Core formula:
TotalCost = (BasePrice[species] × MoistureAdj × RegionAdj × Quantity) + DeliveryFee + StackingFee; where DeliveryFee = max(0, miles - 15) × $3where:
BasePrice— Species base price per cord ($)MoistureAdj— Seasoning multiplier (0.7 green → 1.25 kiln)RegionAdj— Regional supply/demand multiplier (0.9–1.2)Quantity— Cords purchased (cords)DeliveryFee— Per-mile surcharge beyond 15-mile radius ($)StackingFee— Flat stacking labor ($)
How to apply: Compare your calculator result against the $18/MBtu threshold. Below $18 is excellent value; $18–$25 is the fair-market band; above $25 means you should renegotiate, switch species, or wait for off-peak season.
Worked example: Suppose you order 2 cords of seasoned maple in the Midwest, delivered 25 miles away, dumped (not stacked). Base = $330 × 1.0 × 1.0 = $330/cord. Delivery = (25-15) × $3 = $30. Total = ($330 × 2) + $30 + $0 = $690. Effective per-cord = $345. BTU value = 20M × 1.0 = 20 MBtu, so cost per MBtu = $345 ÷ 20 = $17.25 — just under the $18 sweet spot, making this a strong deal.
Alternative formulas
Cost-per-million-BTU: PricePerCord ÷ (BTU/cord × MoistureAdj)
When to use: Use this when comparing two quotes of different species — it normalizes apples-to-apples on heat output, not volume.
Volumetric price (per cubic foot): PricePerCord ÷ 128
When to use: Use when comparing fractional sizes (face cord, rick, truckload) to a full-cord quote.
Parameter explanations
| Input | Unit | What it means | Impact on results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood species | — | The tree type, which determines density and BTU output per cord. | Hardwoods cost 40–70% more than softwoods but deliver 50–80% more heat; oak and hickory rank highest on BTU per dollar. |
| Seasoning / moisture | % | How much water remains in the wood by weight; under 20% is burn-ready. | Green wood reduces price 30% but cuts usable heat in half; kiln-dried adds 25% but burns immediately. |
| Delivery distance | mi | Miles from supplier yard to your home. | First 15 miles typically free; each additional mile adds about $3, so a 40-mile delivery can add $75. |
| Stacking service | — | Whether the seller stacks the wood or dumps it in your driveway. | Adds $40–$120 flat; not volume-dependent. Tarp adds $20–$40 more. |
| Region | — | Geographic supply and demand zone. | Multiplies base price by 0.9× (Southeast) up to 1.2× (Northeast); can swing a quote by $150 per cord. |
| Hours burned per week | hr/wk | How long your stove or fireplace operates weekly. | Does not change price, but inversely affects burn duration — doubling hours halves how many weeks the cord lasts. |
| Cords being purchased | cords | Total volume ordered in standard 128 cu ft units. | Larger orders spread fixed delivery/stacking fees across more wood, lowering effective per-cord cost. |
Assumptions
Base prices reflect 2026 averages across U.S. firewood dealers; local rural pricing may run 10–20% lower.
BTU values are nominal per dry cord — Actual heat output depends on stove efficiency (typically 60–80%) and how completely the wood burns; we use industry-standard reference BTU figures.
Moisture adjustment captures both price and usable energy — Green wood is priced 30% lower but burns at roughly half its rated BTU; the calculator reflects price only, so green wood looks cheaper than its true cost.
Delivery is assumed to be one round trip; multi-load orders are calculated proportionally.
The example default values are not hard limits — the calculator works for any species, quantity from 0.25 to 10 cords, and distance from 0 to 100 miles.
How to use this calculator
- Pick the wood you actually want to burn — Choose species first, then seasoning. If you need wood for this winter, do not select 'green' — it will not be usable.
- Enter your real delivery distance and region — Use the supplier's home address, not yours. Regional multiplier reflects local market — pick the closest match.
- Set your actual weekly burn hours — Be honest — overestimating makes the cord look like a worse value. A typical evening fireplace burn is 3–4 hours.
- Compare the cost-per-MBtu metric across species — Re-run with pine vs. oak. The cheaper sticker price often loses on BTU per dollar.
- Re-check in late summer — Prices drop 15–25% from April through August. Buying off-peak and stacking yourself maximizes value.