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.
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.
[image placeholder: photo of a neatly stacked full cord with measurements overlaid]
Full Cord vs. Face Cord
You'll sometimes hear the term "face cord" or "stove cord" when shopping for firewood. A face cord is only one row deep — typically 16 inches — meaning it's roughly one-third of a full cord. The problem is that "face cord" has no legal definition and can vary from seller to seller.
That's why at Hugh MacInnis Lumber, we sell exclusively by the full cord. There's no guesswork and no confusion — a cord is a cord is a cord. 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 near St. Ann's, we use cord-sized bins to measure every order. Each bin holds exactly one full cord of split, stacked firewood. Your wood is loaded into the bin, levelled, and then transferred to our delivery truck. This way, you can be confident that each cord you receive is a true, honest cord.
[image placeholder: photo of HML's cord measurement bins at the yard]
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.