How Much Does a Cord of Wood Cost?
Normal range: $150 - $500
A cord of wood usually costs around $300. Most pay between $150 and $500 depending on the wood type and location.
A cord of wood costs $300 on average, and prices often range from $150 to $500 depending on the season, wood type, and where it’s from. Buying a cord of wood means you’ll get 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. This large volume is commonly used in homes where a fireplace or stove burns wood as the primary heat source. This guide breaks down how wood is priced and offers tips for purchasing wood so you can prepare for the colder months.
- Average
- $300
- Low end
- $120
- high end
- $900
How Much Is in a Cord of Wood?
A “cord” is a standard measurement used to describe a stack of firewood. A full cord measures about 128 cubic feet: 4 feet wide, 4 feet high, and 8 feet long. Note that the volume includes the gaps between the stacked logs, too, so it’s not just solid wood.
To get a better sense of how much wood that is, a cord includes about 600 to 800 pieces of firewood. The total number of pieces can vary depending on the size and splitting of the logs.
Cord of Wood Cost Factors
There’s no one reason for the wide range of costs for a cord of wood. A variety of factors affect the price, from wood attributes like type, condition, and quality to the labor costs of delivery and stacking. The most significant cost factors are broken down below.
Hardwood vs. Softwood
Wood is classified as either hardwood or softwood. Hardwoods tend to make better firewood, but they come at a higher price point. There are exceptions to this rule, however. For example, oak is one of the most common hardwood species and can cost as little as $180 per cord in some places. On the other hand, high-quality cherry wood can cost as much as $900 per cord.
| Hardwood | Softwood |
|---|---|
| $250–$500 per cord | $150–$300 per cord |
| Burns longer and hotter | Burns twice as fast |
| Produces less smoke | Easier to ignite, making it good kindling |
| Seasons slowly | Seasons quickly |
| Includes oak, hickory, beech, cherry, elm, maple, mesquite | Includes pine, spruce, willow, cedar |
Labor
Between labor and fuel, hiring a local firewood delivery service for a cord of wood typically costs $25 to $75, or around $2 per mile. You’ll pay an additional $25 to $80 per load to have someone stack the wood after delivery. You can avoid delivery costs with your own long-bed truck or trailer, but most homeowners don't have a large enough vehicle to transport a full cord.
Seasoned vs. Green
To season firewood means to let it dry out, typically for six months to two years. Unseasoned wood is considered “green.” Green wood is heavier due to its higher moisture content, making it hard to light and producing more smoke. For these reasons, it often costs a bit less. If you have the space and time to let it dry, buying green wood can save you money.
Location
The price of a cord of wood varies by state and region. Firewood is more abundant in densely wooded regions, which keeps cord prices low. Regardless of prices in your area, buying locally sourced wood is better for the environment. It prevents invasive species of plants and pests that travel in firewood out of local forests. Avoid products like “beetle kill pine” if you can.
| State | Average Cost of Cord of Wood |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $200–$400 |
| California | $350–$550 |
| Delaware | $150–$180 |
| Florida | $380–$480 |
| Maine | $290–$320 |
| Michigan | $120–$380 |
| North Dakota | $150–$300 |
| Pennsylvania | $300–$600 |
| Texas | $300–$580 |
| Vermont | $350–$500 |
Seasonal Availability
The cost of a cord of wood differs depending on the season. For example, a cord that costs $250 in the summer months may nearly double to $400 when wood becomes scarce in the middle of winter. Plan ahead and purchase wood in the spring or summer to keep costs low.
Firewood Prices by Volume
A volume of wood as large as a full cord—which equates to 600 to 800 logs of firewood—isn't practical for all homeowners. If you need firewood but want a smaller amount, consider purchasing a half cord, face cord, quarter cord, or bundle.
Ordering a full cord of firewood makes sense if you use a wood stove or fireplace as your primary heat source during the winter. Two cords are usually enough for the season. Half cords are good for homeowners who burn wood as backup heat, while smaller sizes are ideal for using a fireplace recreationally or hosting weekend campfires.
| Volume | Size (Cubic Feet) | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 128 | $150–$500 |
| Half cord | 64 | $100–$300 |
| Face cord | 42 | $75–$200 |
| Quarter cord | 32 | $50–$125 |
| Bundle | 0.75 (5–10 logs) | $5–$15 |
Cost to Cut Firewood Yourself
If you have a tree on your property and the proper tools to cut it down and turn it into firewood, you’ll spend no money doing it yourself. If your home relies on wood heat, you may also be able to purchase a permit to chop a tree on public land. If you know how to safely cut down a tree, it will take an afternoon or weekend. Make sure you have room to store the chopped wood.
If you don’t already have the tools, you’ll spend around $200 to $600 to buy them. A chainsaw costs $150 to $500. A hand saw or bow saw, used for cutting smaller branches, costs $20 to $100.
Professional tree removal costs anywhere from $200 to $2,000. While this won’t save you money, tree removal may be necessary if you have an old tree near your home that could cause damage if it falls. If you hire a tree removal service near you, they may chop the wood for you to use as firewood.
5 Ways You Can Save Money on the Price of a Cord of Wood
There are several ways you can save on the cost of a cord of wood:
Purchase wood in early spring at the beginning of the offseason, when there’s less demand and lower prices.
Buy green firewood at a lower price and leave it outdoors for at least a year in advance to season.
Cut your own trees.
Bundle wood chopping into necessary tree removal services.
Contact local arborists, construction crews, storm cleanup teams, or tree trimmers to see if they have unused wood they’re willing to offload.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re burning wood daily for heat, a cord will last one to two months. For homeowners who use their fireplace less frequently, one cord of wood can likely last the whole winter. Hardwoods, like oak, will burn longer than softwoods, stretching that cord a little further.
The best way to store firewood is outdoors and away from your home, shed, or garage. Stacking wood against your house can be a fire hazard and attract unwanted pests. Store your firewood under a shelter where it's protected from rain and snow but still exposed to sunlight and open air. You can lay a tarp on top to help keep moisture out.
The best type of firewood is a locally-sourced hardwood such as oak. While it’s not the least expensive option, oak is found in most parts of the country and doesn't smoke or spark when burned. Other common slow-burning hardwoods, such as hickory, walnut, cherry, and maple, also make excellent firewood.