Cord (unit)

Unit of volume of wood

A cord of wood

The cord is a unit of measure of dry volume used to measure firewood and pulpwood in the United States and Canada.

A cord is the amount of wood that, when "racked and well stowed" (arranged so pieces are aligned, parallel, touching, and compact), occupies a volume of 128 cubic feet (3.62 m3).[1] This corresponds to a well-stacked woodpile 4 feet (122 cm) high, 8 feet (244 cm) wide, and 4 feet (122 cm) deep; or any other arrangement of linear measurements that yields the same volume.

The name cord probably comes from the use of a cord or string to measure it.[2]

The face cord is a unit of volume for stacked firewood, 4 feet (122 cm) high, 8 feet (244 cm) wide, and 16 inches (41 cm) deep—equal to 1/3 of a cord.[3] The symbol for the unit is fc - cd.[4]

## Definitions

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In Canada, the cord is legally defined by Measurement Canada. The cord is one of three legal standards for the sale of firewood in Canada: stacked cubic meter (or stere), cubic foot, and cord.

In the United States, the cord is defined by statute in most states. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook 130, section 2.4.1.2,[5] defines a cord and provides uniform regulations for the sale of fireplace and stove wood. In the metric system, wood is usually measured in steres and cubic meters: 1 stere = 1 m3 ≈ 0.276 cords.

Maine appears unique among U.S. states by also defining a "loose thrown cord" or pile of cut firewood: "A cord of 12 or 16 inches (30 or 41 cm) in length shall mean the amount of wood, bark, and air contained in a space of 180 cubic feet (5.1 m3); and a cord of wood 24 inches (61 cm) in length shall mean the amount of wood, bark, and air contained in a space of 195 cubic feet (5.5 m3). [1981, c. 219 (amd).]"[6]

Other non-official terms for firewood volume include standing cord, kitchen cord, running cord, face cord, fencing cord, country cord, long cord, and rick, all subject to local variation. These are usually taken to mean a well-stacked pile of wood in which the logs are shorter or longer than in a legal cord, to accommodate various burners. For example, a face cord commonly consists of wood that is 16 inches (41 cm) long.[7] The volume of a face cord therefore is typically 1/3 of the volume of a full cord even though it is 8 feet (244 cm) long and 4 feet (122 cm) high. A face cord is also called a rick in the midwestern United States.[8]

The term is used in other English-speaking countries, such as New Zealand,[9] but may not have a legal definition.

## Heating value

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Main article: Firewood § Heating value

One seasoned (dry) cord of Northern red oak with a heating value of 22.1 million British thermal units per cord (23.3 GJ/cord) has the heating equivalent of 159 U.S. gallons (132 imperial gallons; 602 liters) of fuel oil with a heating value of 138,700 British thermal units per U.S. gallon (38.7 megajoules per liter).[10][11]

## Australia

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Until metrication in Australia, an imperial cord was a measurement for wood and firewood.[12][13] The measurements for a cord of wood were 4 feet high by 8 feet wide by 4 feet deep, or usually a stack of wood containing 128 cubic feet (cu ft). The imperial cord enclosed 128 cu ft.[14][15]

## France

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The corde was a unit of volume used before metrication in several French-speaking countries (France, Belgium and Luxembourg). Its value varied from 2–5 steres (71–177 cu ft) depending on the region. [16][17]

## See also

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* Board foot
* Cubic ton
* Forest product
* Hoppus foot
* Imperial units
* List of unusual units of measurement
* Measurement Canada
* Measurement Information Division of Industry Canada
* Standard (timber unit)
* Units of measurement

## References

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1. ^ British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range. "Glossary of Forestry Terms in British Columbia" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-04.
2. ^ "cord | Origin and meaning of cord by Online Etymology Dictionary". Retrieved 2019-01-11.
3. ^ Luther Ainsworth (1837). Practical Mercantile Arithmetic: In which the Theory and Practice of Arithmetic are Familiarly Explained and Illustrated, by a Great Variety of Mercantile, Mechanical and Mathematical Problems. Providence, Rhode Island: B. Cranston. ISBN 978-1130955545. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
4. ^ Cardarelli, François (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. Translated by Shields, M. J. (Rev. and exp. ed.). London: Springer. p. 52\. ISBN 185233682X.
5. ^ NIST Weights and Measures Division (2006). "Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality". NIST Handbook 130 - 2006 Edition. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
6. ^ "Firewood Fact Sheet". Maine Department of Agriculture. November 15, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2020. "A standard cord is a unit of measure of wood products 4 feet (122 cm) wide, 4 feet (122 cm) high, and 8 feet (244 cm) long, or its equivalent, containing 128 cubic feet (3.6 m3) when the wood is ranked and well stowed. Any voids that will accommodate a stick, log or bolt of average dimensions to those in that pile shall be deducted from the measured volume."
7. ^ "What is a Cord? And How to Avoid Paying Too Much for One". Wood Heat Organization Inc. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
8. ^ "What is a "Rick", "Rack", "Face Cord"?". Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
9. ^ Consumer.org.nz What is a cord Archived 2014-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ "Sweep's Library: Firewood Heat Value Comparison Charts". Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
11. ^ "Fuel Oil and Combustion Values". Engineering Toolbox. 2001. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
12. ^ "Advertising". The Dalby Herald. Queensland, Australia. 11 November 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 13 June 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
13. ^ "Cord of Firewood". The Land. No. 2227\. New South Wales, Australia. 11 June 1954. p. 43. Retrieved 13 June 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
14. ^ "Product oriented volume". fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
15. ^ measures, Great Britain Parliament, House of commons, Select committee on weights and (1862). Report from the Select Committee on Weights and Measures: Together with the Proceedings of the Committee, Minutes of Evidence, Appendix, and Index. Communicated from the Commons to the Lords. Ordered to be Printed 4th August 1862 ... p. 28.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. ^ "S'informer sur le bois énergie en Bretagne". Abibois (in French). Retrieved 2021-03-11.
17. ^ "Corde [French]". Sizes. Sizes inc. Retrieved 2025-04-15.

## External links

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* Nova Scotia Natural Resources Information Circular DNR - 1A: "Guide to buying and measuring stacked firewood"

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United States customary units

Comparison with imperial unit system

Length|

* Thousandth of an inch
* Inch
* Hand
* Link
* Foot
* Yard
* Rod
* Chain
* Furlong
* Mile
* Statute mile

Area|

* Square inch
* Square foot
* Square yard
* Acre
* Square mile

Volume|

| Derived|

* Cubic inch
* Cubic foot
* Cubic yard
* Cubic mile

|

Cooking|

* Teaspoon
* Tablespoon
* Fluid ounce
* Cup
* Pint
* Quart
* Gallon

Wood|

* Board foot
* Cord
* Face cord

Other|

* Minim
* Gill
* Peck
* Bushel
* Barrel
* Acre-foot

Speed|

* Foot per second
* Miles per hour

Mass|

* Grain
* Dram
* Ounce
* Pound
* Hundredweight
* Ton
* Long
* Short

Force|

* Poundal
* Pound-force
* Kip

Pressure|

* Inch of mercury
* Pound per square inch
* Kilopound per square inch

Other units and measures|

* Bolt (cloth)
* British thermal unit
* Degree (angle)
* Fahrenheit
* Foot-candle
* Foot-lambert
* Foot-pound (energy)
* Horsepower
* Perm
* Pound-foot (torque)
* Spinning count
* Ton of refrigeration

Related systems|

* American wire gauge
* Avoirdupois system
* Body jewelry sizes
* English Engineering Units
* Foot–pound–second system of units

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