Rick Vs Cord: What Every Gardener and Homeowner Needs to Know
If you heat with wood, sell firewood, or ever try to buy a stack from a neighbor, you’ll run into the terms rick and cord. I’ve been stacking, splitting, and trading wood for years, and those words used to confuse me too. Let me walk you through the plain truth: what each term means, how they differ, and practical tips so you never get shorted on winter fuel.
Why this matters
Buying firewood is one of those seasonal tasks that feels simple until you stand beside a truckload and try to figure out if you got a fair deal. Mistakes cost money and cold nights. Knowing the difference between a rick and a cord helps you communicate clearly with sellers, measure stacks properly, and plan how much wood you’ll need.
Understanding the Cord
A cord is the standard unit of measure for firewood used across North America. It’s a precise volume measurement: 128 cubic feet.
That usually means a stack 4 feet high by 8 feet long by 4 feet deep. When wood is neatly stacked, with little space between rounds, that’s what you expect when someone offers a cord.
How a cord is measured
Measure the length, height, and depth of the stacked wood. Multiply those three numbers (in feet). If the total is 128 cubic feet, you’ve got a cord.
- Typical cord dimensions: 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 4 ft deep = 128 cu ft
- Also called a “face cord” confusion: beware—face cord is different (see below)
Understanding the Rick
A rick (also called a face cord in many regions) usually refers to a stack of wood 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but with the depth equal to the length of the individual pieces of wood. Most commonly, that depth is 16 inches or 24 inches depending on how the seller cut the rounds.
So a rick is not a fixed volume the way a cord is. Its volume depends on the length of pieces, which makes it easy to be misled if you don’t ask the right questions.
Typical rick measurements
- 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 16 in deep = about 42.7 cubic feet
- 4 ft high × 8 ft long × 24 in deep = about 64 cubic feet
In other words, two ricks of 16-inch wood are much less wood than a full cord; three such ricks might be roughly equivalent to a cord, depending on stacking tightness.
Rick Vs Cord: Quick Comparison
- Accuracy: Cord is precise (128 cu ft); rick varies with piece length.
- Common confusion: Sellers might advertise “a cord” but deliver a “rick” unknowingly or intentionally.
- Regional language: In some areas “rick” and “face cord” are used interchangeably; always clarify depth of pieces.
A real-life example from my woodpile
I once ordered what I thought was a cord and got a stack of 16-inch wood 4×8—one of those ricks. The truck driver called it a cord. I measured and realized I only had about one-third of the wood I expected. Lesson learned: ask for dimensions and whether the stated amount is a full cord or a rick of a certain depth.
“The best question to ask a seller is not ‘How many cords?’ but ‘What are the dimensions of the stack and the length of the pieces?’”
How to Buy Firewood Without Getting Ripped Off
Here are practical steps I use every year when ordering wood from a neighbor or supplier. They work whether you’re a gardener, homeowner, or small-scale wood seller.
- Ask for exact dimensions: height, length, and depth of the stack in feet and inches.
- Ask for piece length: 16 in, 18 in, 24 in, etc. That tells you if it’s a rick or cord volume.
- Insist on seeing the stack before payment or ask to measure with a tape measure on delivery.
- Consider cord-equivalent pricing: calculate price per cubic foot and compare.
- Check species and seasoning: hardwoods like oak burn longer than softwoods like pine.
Pricing tip
Price per cord is the cleanest comparison. If you’re quoted for a rick, ask the seller to convert to price per cord equivalent. Remember stacking voids reduce usable wood volume—dense stacking reduces air pockets and increases actual wood content per cord.
Storing and Stacking: Making Your Rick or Cord Last
Once you have your wood, stack it off the ground, face the cut ends outward for faster drying, and cover the top but keep the sides ventilated. I always leave a small gap at the base so air can circulate and the wood can season properly.
- Stack on pallets or 2×4 rails to avoid ground moisture.
- Shade in summer but get sun and wind exposure to season the wood.
- Split larger rounds for faster seasoning and easier burning.
Final Thoughts from the Garden Shed
Rick vs cord is more than vocabulary; it’s practical knowledge that saves money, keeps your home warm, and avoids awkward disputes. I’ve been surprised by sloppy terminology enough times to be careful now. Ask for dimensions, verify piece length, and always measure if you can. A little attention at the start of the season keeps the rest of the winter cozy.
If you’d like, I can share a simple worksheet to calculate cord equivalents from ricks of different piece lengths or a checklist to use when buying firewood. Happy stacking—and may your winter be warm and your garden ready for spring.
