What Is a Cord of Firewood?
A cord is the standard unit for measuring firewood in Canada and the United States. One full cord is a neatly stacked pile of wood that measures 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 8 feet long — a total of 128 cubic feet before processing.
When firewood is processed (split and cut to length), a cord yields approximately 100 cubic feet of firewood. This is standard practice in the area.
That's a lot of wood. Picture a stack roughly the size of a small pickup truck bed, filled and levelled off. When properly stacked (not tossed in a heap), a full cord provides a reliable, consistent amount of firewood every time.
At Hugh MacInnis Lumber, we sell exclusively by the full cord. There's no guesswork and no confusion — what you order is exactly what you get.
How We Measure Your Firewood
Some firewood operations load wood loosely into a truck and call it a cord. We do things differently.
At our yard in Frenchvale, we use cord-sized bins to measure every order. Each bin holds one cord of hardwood that has been split. Your wood is loaded into the bin, levelled, and then delivered by the truck load. This way, you can be confident that each cord you receive is a true, honest cord.
It's a simple system, but it matters. Loose-loaded firewood can look like a lot in the truck, but once you stack it at home, you may find you're short. Our bin system eliminates that problem entirely.
Why Honest Measurement Matters
Firewood is a significant purchase, especially if you're heating your home through a Cape Breton winter. You deserve to know exactly what you're paying for. A properly measured full cord means:
- Predictable heating — you can plan your season knowing how much wood you have
- Fair pricing — you're comparing apples to apples when you shop around
- No surprises — what arrives at your door matches what you ordered
Have Questions?
If you're unsure how much firewood to order or want to know more about how we process and deliver your wood, don't hesitate to get in touch. We're always happy to walk you through it.