How Much Is a Cord of Wood? Average Price Guide (2026)
What Exactly Is a Cord of Wood?
A cord is the traditional unit for selling firewood in North America, defined as a neatly stacked pile 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. That works out to:
- 128 cubic feet of stacked space
- 3.62 cubic metres stacked
- Roughly 2.2–2.5 cubic metres of solid wood — the rest is air between the logs
- About 1.2–1.8 tonnes depending on species and moisture content
The term dates back centuries — a “cord” was originally measured with an actual cord or rope. The Wikipedia entry on the cord as a unit of measurement traces its legal definitions across US states, which is useful because the exact stacking rules are legally enforced in many places.
Full cord vs face cord
This distinction catches out first-time buyers:
- Full cord: 4 × 4 × 8 ft = 128 cubic feet. The real thing.
- Face cord (also called a rick): 4 ft high × 8 ft long, but only as deep as one log length (typically 16 inches). A face cord is roughly one-third of a full cord — about 42–43 cubic feet.
Unscrupulous sellers sometimes advertise a “cord” when they mean a face cord. Always confirm the stack dimensions before paying.
How Much Does a Cord of Wood Cost in the UK? (2026)
UK firewood merchants rarely use the term “cord” — they sell by the loose cubic metre, the stacked cubic metre, the bulk bag, or the tonne. Converted to full-cord equivalents, 2026 UK prices look like this:
| Wood type | Per full cord equivalent | Per stacked m³ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasoned hardwood (oak, ash, beech) | £280 – £450 | £95 – £150 | Best heat output, longest burn |
| Seasoned mixed hardwood | £240 – £380 | £80 – £125 | Good all-rounder |
| Kiln-dried hardwood | £360 – £550 | £120 – £180 | Under 20% moisture, ready to burn |
| Softwood (pine, spruce, larch) | £180 – £300 | £60 – £100 | Burns faster, more sparking |
| Kiln-dried softwood | £230 – £360 | £75 – £120 | Good for kindling and quick heat |
Prices assume delivery within a reasonable distance and vary by region — rural areas near woodland are cheapest, London and the South East dearest. Buying in bulk (multiple cords) usually earns a 10–15% discount.
Other common UK firewood formats and prices
| Format | Typical 2026 price | Rough cord fraction |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk bag / dumpy bag (approx. 1 m³ loose) | £85 – £140 | ~¼ cord |
| Nets of logs (20–25 kg) | £7 – £12 each | ~1/60 cord |
| Loose tipper load (approx. 3 m³ loose) | £220 – £350 | ~⅔ cord |
| Tonne bags of kiln-dried logs | £280 – £420 | ~¾ cord |
Hardwood vs Softwood: Which Should You Buy?
- Heat output: dense hardwoods like oak and ash deliver roughly twice the heat per volume of softwoods like pine. A cord of oak genuinely heats your home longer than a cord of pine.
- Burn time: hardwood logs burn slower and leave longer-lasting embers — better for overnight burning in a stove.
- Ease of lighting: softwood catches faster and is excellent for getting the fire going; many people burn softwood kindling with hardwood main logs.
- Residue: softwoods produce more creosote, so chimneys need sweeping more often. Budget for an annual sweep (£60–£90 in most of the UK).
- Cost per unit of heat: despite the higher sticker price, seasoned hardwood is usually cheaper per kilowatt-hour of heat delivered.
Moisture Content: The Number That Matters Most
Freshly felled (“green”) wood is about 50% water by weight and burns terribly — hissing, smoking, and coating your flue in tar. Proper firewood should be:
- Seasoned: air-dried 12–24 months, ideally under 25% moisture
- Kiln-dried: force-dried to under 20% moisture, burns immediately
- Ready to Burn certified: the UK’s official certification for firewood under 20% moisture — look for the logo
Since 2021, selling wet wood in small volumes has been restricted in England under air quality rules — see gov.uk’s rules on smoke control areas and fuel if you burn in a town or city. A £15–£25 moisture meter is the best investment a firewood buyer can make: split a log and test the fresh face, not the bark.
How Much Firewood Will You Actually Use?
Consumption depends on your stove, insulation and how often you burn:
- Occasional evening fires (2–3 nights a week, Oct–Mar): about ¼ to ⅓ of a cord per winter
- Daily evening burning in a modern stove as main heating: 1 to 1.5 cords per winter
- All-day burning in a poorly insulated cottage: 2 to 3 cords per winter
A useful rule of thumb: a 5 kW stove burning 6 hours a day uses roughly 2–3 kg of hardwood per hour — about 12–18 kg a day, or one bulk bag every 1–2 weeks in deep winter. If you are planning the log store as a DIY build, how much a standard pallet weighs is handy for the base, and concrete block weights if you are building a permanent store.
Storing a Cord of Wood
- Stack dimensions: a full cord needs a footprint of 8 ft × 4 ft (2.4 m × 1.2 m) and 4 ft (1.2 m) of height. Most UK log stores hold 1–2 m³; a full cord needs a serious store or an open stack.
- Off the ground: pallets, rails or bearers keep the bottom layer dry and ventilated.
- Cover the top, not the sides: rain protection on top with airflow around the sides seasons wood fastest. Fully wrapping a stack in tarpaulin traps moisture.
- Sun and wind help: the sunniest, breeziest spot seasons wood quickest — not the damp corner behind the shed.
- Rotate stock: burn oldest first; label stacks by delivery date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a cord of wood in the UK?
A full cord (4 × 4 × 8 ft stacked) of seasoned hardwood costs roughly £280–£450 delivered in 2026; softwood costs £180–£300. UK sellers usually price by the cubic metre (£80–£150 for hardwood) rather than by the cord.
How big is a cord of wood?
128 cubic feet (3.62 cubic metres) when neatly stacked — a pile 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. About a third of that volume is air between the logs.
What is the difference between a cord and a face cord?
A face cord is 4 ft high × 8 ft long but only one log-length deep (usually 16 inches) — roughly one-third of a full cord. Confirm stack dimensions with the seller before buying.
How long will a cord of wood last?
For daily evening burning in a modern stove as primary heating, about one winter (1–1.5 cords per season is typical). For occasional weekend fires, a single cord can last two winters or more.
Is it cheaper to buy green wood and season it myself?
Yes — green wood can be 30–50% cheaper — but you need 12–24 months of proper storage and the space for it. Factor in the storage footprint and your time; for most suburban buyers, seasoned or kiln-dried is the practical choice.
Can I burn any wood in a smoke control area?
In smoke control areas (most UK towns and cities) you must burn authorised fuels or use a DEFRA-exempt appliance. Check your local council’s designation and the gov.uk smoke control rules before ordering in bulk.