How much firewood do I need for winter?
Short answer
Heating a home mainly with wood through a cold winter usually takes 3 to 6 cords. A University of Kentucky forestry guide puts a typical home at about 3.5 cords. A fireplace used on weekends might burn a cord or less.
Work it out for your numbers
Full cords
0.67 cords
- Face cords (4 × 8 ft rows)
- 2
- Cubic feet
- 85.3 cu ft
- Value at your price
- $200.00
What counts as a cord
A full cord is a tight stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long: 128 cubic feet. Sellers also use “face cord” or “rick,” which is a 4 × 8 ft stack only one log deep. How much wood that is depends on the log length.
| What you’re sold | Cubic feet | Share of a full cord |
|---|---|---|
| Face cord, 16 in logs | 42.7 | 1/3 |
| Face cord, 24 in logs | 64 | 1/2 |
| Full cord | 128 | 1 |
Always ask for the stack’s dimensions, not just the name. Then use the calculator above to check what you’re getting.
Rough amounts by how you burn
These are starting points for a typical home. Your first winter of keeping track will tell you more than any rule of thumb.
| How you use it | Cords per winter |
|---|---|
| Occasional evening fires | ½ to 1 |
| Most evenings, alongside central heat | 1 to 3 |
| Main heat, mild or moderate climate | 2 to 4 |
| Main heat, cold climate | 4 to 6 or more |
What changes the number
- Your stove. A modern wood stove or insert turns far more of the wood into room heat than an open fireplace, which sends most of it up the chimney.
- The wood. Dense hardwoods such as oak, hickory and maple hold more heat per cord than pine or poplar, so you burn fewer cords.
- Dryness. Wet wood spends its energy boiling off water. Season it at least six months, and a year is better. A cheap moisture meter should read 20% or less.
- Your house and climate. Insulation, drafts, square footage and how cold your winters get matter as much as the stove.
Keep track this year
Measure your stack when the season starts and again at the end, using the calculator above. The difference is what your house actually burns, and next year you can buy exactly that plus a little extra.
Common questions
How long does a cord of wood last?
At the typical 3.5 cords over a five-month heating season, about six weeks of steady burning. For occasional fires, a cord can last the whole winter.
Is a face cord the same as a cord?
No. With 16-inch logs, a face cord is a third of a full cord. With 24-inch logs, it’s half.
How long does firewood need to season?
At least six months, and a year is better. Dense woods like oak can take longer.
Sources
Updated October 29, 2026. Figures are estimates for planning. Check product labels and local codes before you buy or build.