How Much is Half a Cord of Wood?

It is difficult to determine whether you are getting a good deal on firewood unless you physically visit the lumber yard.

Similar to purchasing any other commodity, you must purchase firewood on your own because it is difficult to determine whether you are receiving a cord or less.

This guide will help you determine what a cord and other firewood measurement equivalents are.

Half a cord is what?

A half-cord is simply one-half of a cord. A “cord” is a unit of measurement for wood quantity. It is a 128-cubic-foot pile of wood measuring 4 by 8 by 4 feet. A half-cord equals 64 cubic feet or half of this amount.

A half cord is roughly equivalent to the quantity required to fill an 8-foot pickup truck bed. This amount was determined by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension based on the neat stack of wood.

Cords and half-cords are the most fundamental methods of measuring firewood and are frequently used by suppliers.

How many trees to make a cord?

If you have access to a large backyard where you can cut trees for firewood or you recently felled a tree, you may wish to know how many trees are required to make a half cord.

To accomplish this, you must first measure the diameter of the tree’s trunk with a ruler. This should be performed at breast height (DBH), or approximately 4.5 feet from the ground.

A tree with a diameter at breast height of 16 inches will yield half a cord of wood. If the diameter at the breast height of the tree is approximately 10 inches, at least two to three trees are required to make a half-cord.

What is the weight of a half cord of wood?

Now, when it comes to weight or the weight of a half-cord, this is a rather complex matter. There cannot be a single standard weight for a cord or a half-cord of wood due to the different types of wood and, consequently, their varying moisture content.

Typically, wood has a high moisture content; as a result, it weighs more than if it were dried. Moreover, different tree species have distinct densities.

For instance, a half-cord of dry white oak may weigh approximately 2,200 pounds, whereas a half-cord of spruce may weigh only approximately 1,500 pounds.

Making firewood more efficient

When using firewood in a furnace or wood-burning stove, one of the most important factors to consider is how to make firewood more efficient. The amount of heat that a half-cord of wood can produce in a fireplace or wood stove depends on the stove’s density. Denser, heavier wood burns longer and generates more heat.

Prior to making a purchase, you must determine whether the wood is heavy, medium, or light in order to maximize your return. If both light and heavy wood are available at the same price, a half cord of heavy wood represents the best value.

In contrast, dried wood will always produce more heat when burned than wood with high moisture content. 10 to 12 percent of the wood’s potential heat is lost, according to experts, when the wood is burned before it has been dried.

Taking firewood to your home

Typically, wood will be wet when you purchase it, and its moisture content will most likely be high. Wet wood can weigh up to two times as much as dry wood.

This must be considered when transporting firewood from the yard to the house. This is why it is essential to know the maximum weight capacity of your vehicle.

Select the type of wood with care. After bringing firewood inside, it must be stacked properly, preferably outside. You may cover it with a tarp, especially if it rains frequently where you are.

Firewood Efficiency

The amount of heat a half-cord of wood can produce in a fireplace or wood stove depends on the density of the wood. Dense, heavy wood burns longer and generates more heat.

Know which woods are heavy, medium, and light before making a purchase so that you can make the most cost-effective decision.

For instance, if the price of light and heavy wood is comparable, the half-cord of heavy wood will be the better value. When burned, dry wood will always produce more heat than wood with high moisture content.

According to the University of Missouri Extension, 10 to 12 percent of the wood’s potential heat is lost if it is burned prior to drying.

Final Words

Half a cord is equivalent to one-half of the standard measurement for firewood. It has a volume of 64 cubic feet and is one of the most common units for measuring firewood.

Understanding the difference between a cord and a half-cord will allow you to purchase firewood more efficiently and affordably.