How much does a cord of firewood cost?
How much does a cord of firewood cost?
$275 – $400 average cost per cord (delivered)
Cord of wood cost
A cord of wood costs $275 to $400 on average for split seasoned hardwood, including delivery. Prices for half a cord of wood are $180 to $280, depending on the location, wood type, and season. Firewood costs $600 per cord or more for premium hardwoods during wintertime.
Stacking service costs $20 to $80 per cord.
Delivery costs $25 to $100 per load to locations more than 15 miles away.
| Number of cords | Average price range* |
|---|---|
| 1 | $275 – $400 |
| 2 | $525 – $775 |
| 3 | $750 – $1,125 |
| 4 | $900 – $1,400 |
| 5 | $1,000 – $1,600 |
*Prices per cord decrease when buying more cords.
Firewood prices by volume
Firewood pricing varies by the size of the load, with lower prices per cubic foot for bigger loads.
| Size | Average price range* | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| Full cord | $275 – $400 | 128 |
| Half cord | $180 – $280 | 64 |
| Face cord / third of a cord | $120 – $200 | 42 |
| Quarter cord | $100 – $180 | 32 |
| Bundle | $5 – $10 | 1 |
*These split-wood prices apply for local deliveries up to 15 miles.
Save money by purchasing a bigger quantity and storing the extra for next season.
Full cord
A full cord costs $275 to $400 for 128 cubic feet of hardwood. Most people don't buy softwood since it can take twice as much softwood to get through the winter. Prices are $400 to $600+ per full cord for specialty woods like oak, almond, peach, black locust, cherry, hickory, and birch.
Some sellers offer cords of mixed hard and soft woods depending on the local supply.
A full cord weighs 2,500 to 5,000 lbs. and typically forms a stack 4' tall X 8' wide X 4' deep.
Half cord
A half cord of wood costs $180 to $280 for 64 cubic feet of split pieces, including free local delivery. Specialty hardwoods like oak seasoned for 6+ months will cost more. Half of a cord of firewood weighs 1,250 to 2,500 lbs. A half cord is stacked in 4'x4'x4' piles.
Rick or face cord
A face cord of wood costs $120 to $200 on average depending on if it's a premium hardwood or softwood. A face cord, or "Rick cord," is a firewood stack of 42 cubic feet. This size is a third of a full cord and weighs 830 to 1,700 lbs. total.
A face cord is a wood stack 8' wide X 4' tall with 16" long pieces.
Quarter cord
A quarter cord costs $100 to $180 for 32 cubic feet of firewood. A small to mid-sized pickup truck can carry up to 1/4 of a cord of firewood, but typically not more. The total weight of 1/4 cord of firewood is 550 to 1,200 lbs., and hardwoods are heaviest.
Sometimes higher prices of $180 to $225 for a quarter cord apply for thoroughly dried hardwoods like oak in areas with short supply. This fee typically includes local deliveries within 10 to 15 miles.
Bundle
A bundle costs $5 to $10 for up to 1 cubic foot of firewood, typically for a campfire or fireplace. Buy 2 to 4 bundles if the fire should last up to 4 hours. Bags of wood bundles are available at gas stations and home improvement stores.
Most bundles of wood weigh 20 to 30 pounds according to the wood's density and moisture content. Look for kiln-dried hardwood that will light more easily than wood scraps from a mill.
Firewood cost factors
Prices for firewood vary greatly according to many factors:
Quantity – Prices per cubic foot of firewood are much cheaper for orders of at least 1 cord or more.
Size – Most firewood is 14" to 18" long per piece. Splitting firewood into smaller logs costs more for the extra labor.
Wood type – Hardwood burns longer than softwood but comes at higher prices.
Condition – Scrap wood from mills or construction and demolition sites will have the lowest prices but may contain pests. Kiln-dried wood costs more since it burns more easily.
Season – The highest prices typically apply for last-minute firewood purchases at the end of fall or if you run out of wood in the winter.
Delivery – Most companies include local delivery in their fees while some charge separately. Deliveries beyond 15 miles typically cost $25 to $100 on average or $2 to $3 per mile.
Stacking – Stacking costs $20 to $80 per cord on average, depending on the distance from the delivery truck. A handyman charges $50 to $80 per hour for wood stacking.
Location – Areas by large forests typically have cheaper firewood prices. Regions with no nearby wood supply have higher prices for transporting firewood over longer distances.
Additional wood-heating fees – Wood burning stove installation costs $1,200 to $4,500. An outdoor furnace costs $9,000 to $16,000 installed.
Hardwood vs. softwood
Softwood costs $175 to $275 per full cord from evergreen trees like pine and spruce. Hardwoods cost $275 to $400 per full cord from flowering trees like maple and ash. Premium hardwoods like oak purchased near winter can cost up to $600+ per full cord due to local shortages.
| Factor | Hardwood | Softwood |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost | $275 – $400 per full cord* | $175 – $275 per full cord* |
| Burn time | Lasts 2 times longer than softwood | Burns 2 times faster than hardwood |
| Heating | Produces more heat | Gives off less heat |
| Splitting | Harder to split | Easiest to split |
| Drying & seasoning | Takes much longer to dry & season | Dries & seasons quickly |
| Lighting | Slower to light | Makes excellent kindling that lights easily |
| Coal production | Will form coals to give heat overnight | Won't produce coals or burn overnight |
*These prices are for seasoned wood only.
Green vs. seasoned
Green firewood is freshly cut while seasoned firewood has been kiln or air dried. Green firewood is the type people buy ahead for next season since it's cheaper. Seasoned wood costs slightly more because it's in prime condition to burn right away.
| Factor | Green | Seasoned |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost | $150 – $275 per full cord | $275 – $400 per full cord |
| Burn readiness | Discounted because it's not dried or ready to burn yet | Fully dried & ready to burn |
| Moisture content | High moisture content of 50%+ | Low moisture content |
| Smoking | Smokes more | Produces little smoke |
| Lighting | Difficult to light | Lights easily |
| Heating | Produces less heat | Gives off more heat |
| Weight | Weighs more than seasoned | Weights less than green wood |
Firewood FAQs
How much firewood do I need?
You need 4 to 7 cords of firewood per winter for homes of 1,400 to 1,800 square feet in Northern climates. Larger homes with firewood as the main heat source can use 8+ cords of wood. The exact amount you need varies according to how well-insulated the home is.
One cord of wood lasts for 20 to 30 days on average.
A house using supplemental gas, oil, or electric heating will need only 2 to 3 cords of firewood.
When is the best time to buy firewood?
The best time to buy firewood is in early spring or before summer so that it has the most time to dry before winter. Ideally, you should buy firewood 1 to 2 years before you need to burn it so that it can thoroughly dry first.
How long does it take to dry or season firewood?
Drying or seasoning firewood takes 6 months to 1 year for most wood types. However, dense hardwoods can take 2 to 4 years to dry completely. The basic requirement for seasoned firewood is that the moisture content is less than 20%. Wood is seasoned by air drying or heating in a kiln.
Don't burn freshly cut wood because it has 50% or more moisture content that creates excess smoke, and the fumes are bad for your health.
How can I get cheap firewood?
You can get cheap firewood by:
Searching through local classified ads.
Contacting tree and debris removal services.
Reaching out to wood recycling centers.
Asking city cleanup crews to help collect wood after a big storm.
If you want to remove trees on your property that aren't suitable for firewood, then tree removal costs $300 to $2,000 per tree.
What is the size of a cord of wood?
One cord of wood is a pile stacked to a size of 128 cubic feet. A full cord wood pile is stacked 4' tall by 4' wide x 8' long. Check the pile to make sure the logs are close together without gaps to avoid being overcharged.
Other helpful facts to remember about a cord of wood are:
One cord of wood weighs 2,200 to 5,000 lbs. according to its density.
A cord contains 500 to 800 pieces of wood, depending on which size the seller cuts the wood and how tightly they stack it.
What is the best type of firewood?
The best type of firewood has a moisture content of 20% or less. Request wood that is free of pests and mold to protect your health as well. Hardwoods are preferable due to their longer burn times.
How do I stack and store firewood?
Stack and store firewood using these tips to keep it dry:
Get a metal rack or pallets to keep the wood pile off of the ground.
Always split the wood before stacking.
Don't put firewood inside an enclosed area like a shed that lacks airflow.
Cover the woodpile with a tarp, plastic sheets, or a piece of metal roofing.
Position the stack of wood in a place where it gets occasional sunlight.
Where do I buy firewood?
Common places to buy firewood include lumber yards, home improvement stores, tree service companies, and landscaping or farm supply stores.
When looking for a firewood seller or firewood delivery service, be sure to:
Ask if the company has certified wood that has been heat treated for pests.
Check that the company has a valid business license.
Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Keep a copy of the itemized bill and any guarantees.
Be wary of the lowest prices that can indicate low-quality wood.
Questions to ask
Before buying firewood, request this key information from sellers:
Which type of wood is this, and does it burn as long as other hardwoods?
How long has this wood been drying, or was it kiln-fired?
Do you sell wood by the stack size or weight?
How much does it cost to pick up the wood instead of ordering a delivery?
Are the delivery services, splitting the wood, and stacking included in this price?
Can I order logs for a lower price if I want to split the wood at home?
How much of a discount can I get for ordering a larger quantity?
Have you inspected this wood for pests?
What's the moisture content of this wood?
How far in advance should I order my wood supply for winter heating?
What are your delivery fees to drop off the wood at my home?
Which local firewood do you think is the best type?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.