If you are comparing firewood sellers around Kitsap, the most useful question is not simply, “How much is a load?” Ask how many cords—or what fraction of a cord—the sale includes.
A cord is a defined volume of stacked wood. Terms such as “truckload,” “rack” and “pile” do not give you enough information to compare quantities. Knowing the standard also gives you a practical way to check a delivery before you begin burning it.
What is a cord of firewood?
One full cord occupies 128 cubic feet when the pieces are ranked and well stowed. In plain language, the wood is placed in rows with the pieces touching, parallel and stacked compactly.
A familiar example is a stack measuring 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long:
4 × 4 × 8 = 128 cubic feet
Those dimensions are only one possible arrangement. A stack that is 2 feet deep, 4 feet high and 16 feet long also equals 128 cubic feet. What matters is the total stacked volume, calculated by multiplying length by height by depth.
The definition appears in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s NIST Handbook 130. Washington’s official firewood guidance from the Department of Agriculture likewise identifies the cord, or a fraction of a cord, as the legal measure for firewood in the state.
Why a loose load is difficult to compare
A cord measures wood after it has been stacked in a defined way. A loose heap in a trailer or pickup bed includes irregular air spaces that make its actual stacked volume difficult to judge. Vehicle sizes, sidewall heights and loading methods also vary.
That is why “one truckload” is not a useful comparison between sellers. Even two apparently similar trucks may carry different amounts. The terms “face cord,” “rack,” “pile” and “truckload” also lack a legal measurement definition for firewood sales in Washington.
If a seller uses an informal description in conversation, ask for the quantity stated as a cord or a specific fraction, such as one-half or one-quarter cord. Then ask what stacked dimensions that quantity should produce. This turns a vague offer into something you can check.
How to measure a delivered stack
Stack the pieces in parallel rows rather than in a crisscross or “log cabin” pattern. Keep the stack compact, while recognizing that split firewood naturally leaves some spaces between pieces.
- Measure the stack’s length in feet.
- Measure its average height in feet.
- Measure its depth, generally corresponding to the average piece length.
- Multiply length × height × depth to calculate cubic feet.
For example, a stack 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 2 feet deep occupies 64 cubic feet. That is one-half of the 128-cubic-foot volume of a full cord.
Measure separate sections separately if the stack changes height or depth, then add their volumes. Take photographs showing the completed stack and tape-measure readings. If the total appears short, Washington’s Department of Agriculture advises contacting the seller immediately and before burning any of the wood.
What should be recorded on the receipt?
For nonpackaged fireplace or stove wood, Washington guidance says the seller must provide a receipt or sales invoice. Check that it records:
- The seller’s name and address
- The buyer’s name and address
- The delivery date
- The quantity delivered
- The quantity on which the price was based, if different
- The price for the delivered amount
- The type of wood and any quality description or representation made in the sale
Do not rely on a receipt that says only “one load.” The quantity should be stated in a recognized unit that you can verify. The Washington State Department of Agriculture also suggests recording the seller’s telephone number and the delivery vehicle’s license plate number.
If a seller makes additional representations—such as naming a wood species or describing its condition—ask for those statements to be written on the receipt. A cord describes volume; it does not, by itself, confirm species, piece size, moisture condition or suitability for a particular appliance.
Keep measurement and permission questions separate
Buying a correctly measured cord does not automatically mean that it may be burned at any time or in every appliance. Air-quality burn restrictions, fire-safety restrictions and appliance requirements are separate checks.
Before burning, consult the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s current air-quality burn-ban status. The agency notes that its status page does not cover fire-safety burn bans, which should be checked separately with the appropriate fire authority. Property owners should also confirm that the wood and appliance use comply with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions and applicable rules.
A practical next step before ordering
Ask the seller to state the quantity in cords or a fraction of a cord and to describe the expected stacked dimensions. Save the advertisement or written offer, retain the delivery receipt, and measure the wood promptly after stacking it. Those few records make prices easier to compare and give both buyer and seller a clear basis for resolving a quantity question.
Previously generated AI editorial illustration reused from the Kitsap Fireplace media library; it does not document a specific event, current condition, product, client, or result described in this article.