What is a rick of wood?

Figures checked Nov. 10, 2026

A rick is a regional name for a stack of firewood, usually the same as a face cord: 4 ft high x 8 ft long x one log length deep. It is not a standard legal unit, and no state law we found defines it. Ask the seller for the height, length and log length, then convert it to full cords.

Unit	What it means
Rick	Usually the same as a face cord; not a standard unit
Face cord	4 ft high x 8 ft long x one log length deep
Full cord	4 ft high x 4 ft wide x 8 ft long (128 cubic feet)

Face cord or rick to full cords

The sums behind this tool are tested against 1 worked example printed in published sources, and 7 checks in all, including the limits where it gives no number.

What is a rick of wood?

Rick is a regional word for a stack of firewood. Indiana's forestry division says most sales are a "face cord" or "rick" (i.e. a 4' x 8' face cut into desired lengths).

The University of Missouri Extension says: A rick is a stack of wood 4 feet high, 8 feet long and a width that varies usually between 18 and 24 inches. That width is the length of the logs, so it varies.

So in practice, a rick usually means the same stack as a face cord. The converter above treats them that way.

How big is a rick of wood?

The face is four feet high and eight feet long, and the depth is one log length. In the University of Missouri Extension's words: A rick is a stack of wood 4 feet high, 8 feet long and a width that varies usually between 18 and 24 inches.

To find the share of a full cord, divide the log length by the full cord's depth of four feet. For example, a rick of 24-inch logs is half a cord.

Indiana's forestry division says: A face cord of 16" pieces is actually one third of a standard cord. The same goes for a rick cut that way. Type your log length into the converter for any other size.

How much is a rick of wood?

We don't list prices: they vary by seller, area and season. A rick's price only makes sense once you know how much wood it holds.

Use the price checker, choose rick, and type the price and log length. It shows the price per full cord, so you can compare a rick with a cord offer like for like.

Rick vs face cord vs full cord

Only the full cord has a fixed legal size. The other two depend on log length.

	Rick	Face cord	Full cord
Face	Four by eight feet	Four by eight feet	Four by eight feet
Depth	One log length	One log length	Four feet
Volume	Depends on log length	Depends on log length	128 cubic feet
Standard unit?	No	No (Maine law defines it)	Yes

Can sellers sell firewood by the rick?

Not officially in many places. Ohio's Hamilton County says: Measurement terms such as "rick," "rack," "face cord," "pile," or "truckload" are strictly prohibited when advertising or selling firewood or stove wood. The national weights and measures handbook bans "face cord," "rack" and "pile" in the same way.

Virginia Tech's firewood guide sums it up: Face cord, rick, pile, truckload, etc. are not standardized. Ask for the size in cords or cubic feet, and measure the stack when it arrives with the stack calculator.

If a delivery looks short, talk to the seller first, then your state's weights and measures office.

Questions people ask

How many ricks are in a cord?

It depends on log length. With sixteen-inch logs, a rick is one third of a cord, so three ricks make a cord.

Is a rick the same as a face cord?

Usually, yes. Both mean a stack four feet high and eight feet long, one log length deep.

How big is a rick of firewood?

A face four feet high and eight feet long, as deep as one log. The University of Missouri Extension says: A rick is a stack of wood 4 feet high, 8 feet long and a width that varies usually between 18 and 24 inches.

Is a rick a legal unit?

No. We found no state law that defines it, and some places ban the word in firewood sales.

Before you light it

Carbon monoxide (CO) can kill. US Consumer Product Safety Commission (Official): “Fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces and fireplaces, can produce CO, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas.” Source(opens in a new tab)
Fit CO alarms and test them. US Consumer Product Safety Commission (Official): “CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.” “Test the alarms every month to make sure they are working.” Source(opens in a new tab)
Have appliances checked every year. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Official): “Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.” Source(opens in a new tab)
Chimneys and vents too. US Fire Administration (Official): “Have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected at least once a year.” Source(opens in a new tab)
If a CO alarm sounds (US: call 911): US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Official): “If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.” Source(opens in a new tab)
Know the signs. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Official): “The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.” Source(opens in a new tab)
Keep things that can burn away from the stove. US Fire Administration (Official): “Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources” Source(opens in a new tab)

Sources for this page

6 figures, each with its source

Every figure on this page, with its source. Open one to see the exact words on the source page and how it was checked.

Legal cord (volume of ranked and well-stowed wood): 128 cubic feet Official
From Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection: Firewood and Stove Wood Regulations (quotes NIST Handbook 130, 2016), which says: “The amount of wood that is contained in a space of 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed.” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026. A blind check looked it up again on Nov. 10, 2026 without seeing our figure: the two agreed.
Standard cord dimensions: 4 ft high x 4 ft wide x 8 ft long Official
From Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 2302 Definitions, which says: “A standard cord is a unit of measure of wood products 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 8 feet long, or its equivalent, containing 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed.” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026.
Face cord of 16-inch logs as a fraction of a cord: 0.33 cords Official
From Indiana DNR Division of Forestry: Heating With Firewood (Stewardship Notes), which says: “A face cord of 16" pieces is actually one third of a standard cord.” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026.
Face cord (general meaning): 4 ft high x 8 ft long x one log length deep Official
From University of Maryland Extension FS-937 (2012): Buying and Storing Firewood & Pellets, which says: “A standard face cord is 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and the width of one stack of wood, normally 16 to 24 inches.” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026.
Sales terms NIST Handbook 130 says not to use: face cord, rack, pile, truckload (and similar) Official
From Washington State Dept. of Agriculture: Firewood Information, which says: “Sellers may not legitimately use terms such as "truckload," "face cord," "rack" or "pile."” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026.
Rick (regional name): usually the same as a face cord: 4 ft x 8 ft face, depth = log length (often 16-24 in); not a standard unit Official
From Indiana DNR Division of Forestry: Heating With Firewood (Stewardship Notes), which says: “most sales are a "face cord" or "rick" (i.e. a 4' x 8' face cut into desired lengths).” Open the source (opens in a new tab)
Checked Nov. 9, 2026. A second check re-opened the source page and matched it on Nov. 9, 2026.