What Is the Length, Width & Depth of a Cord of Wood?

Length

• A stack of wood must be 8 feet long to meet the true definition of a cord. To make sure it is the proper length, use a tape measure to determine the distance from the point at the left-hand bottom corner of the pile to the far right of the stack. If the measurement is less than 8 feet, the cord of wood does not conform to acceptable standards.

Width

• Four-foot-long pieces of wood meet the standard definition for the width of a cord. However, 4-foot lengths may be difficult to transport and too long for most fireplaces. Consequently, many wood sellers cut the 4-foot sections in half prior to stacking them. The pieces are then stacked with the ends abutting to achieve the 4-foot width.

Depth

• The standard measure for the depth of a cord is 4 feet. Take measurements at three different points to ensure the cord is of the proper depth.

Supplemental Cord Measurement

• To test whether a stack of wood is a true cord, measure its length, width and depth and then multiply the measurements by each other to arrive at the total number of cubic feet. For example, length multiplied by width multiplied by depth equals total cubic feet. In order for a cord of wood to be a true cord, it must equal a total of 128 cubic feet.