How many cords of wood fit in a standard pickup truck bed?

A standard 6.5ft full-size pickup bed holds approximately 0.50 cords (half a cord) when loosely tossed to the bed rails, or roughly 0.60 to 0.65 cords when tightly stacked. A short 5.5ft bed holds roughly 1/3 of a cord (~0.38 cords).

What is the difference between a full cord and a face cord?

A standard full cord measures exactly 128 cubic feet (4ft high × 4ft wide × 8ft long). A face cord is a single 16-inch deep row of wood (4ft high × 8ft long), which equals exactly one-third (1/3) of a full cord.

How much does a cord of firewood weigh?

Seasoned dry oak or hickory weighs approximately 3,600 to 4,200 lbs per full cord. Green fresh-cut hardwood can weigh over 5,000 lbs per cord, which can easily exceed the payload capacity of 1/2-ton pickup trucks.

Updated 2026 • US Standard Firewood & Homestead Sizing

Pickup Truck Firewood Cord Calculator

Calculate how many cords of wood fit in your truck bed (5ft, 5.5ft, 6.5ft, or 8ft). Prevent broken suspension springs with automated payload weight checks.

🪵 Volume & Payload Sizer

Pickup Truck Firewood Cord Calculator

128 cu. ft. Standard Full Cord

1. Select Pickup Truck Bed Size

2. How is the Wood Loaded in the Truck?

Loosely Thrown / TossedLots of air gaps (~65% density)

Neatly Stacked to RailsTight row stacking (~85% density)

3. Wood Species & Seasoning Status

*Seasoned wood contains <20% moisture content. Green wood weighs 30% to 50% more due to water content.

4. Fill Height (Inches Above/Below Bed Rails)Level with Bed Rails (20")

15" (Half Full)20" (Standard Rails)28" (Mounded)36" (Rack Extensions)

Estimated Firewood Volume

--Full Cords

Face Cords (16" rows):--

Total Wood Weight:-- lbs

Gross Volume:-- cu. ft.

Heat Energy:-- M BTU

⚖️ Truck Payload Capacity Check

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🛠️ Recommended Firewood Essentials

• Digital Wood Moisture Meter: Test for <20% seasoning
• Heavy-Duty Cargo Net / Tarp: Prevent logs bouncing on highway
• Log Splitting Maul (8 lb): Clean single-strike splits

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The Mathematics of a Firewood Cord

By legal definition in the United States, a full cord is a neatly stacked pile of wood measuring 128 cubic feet (traditionally 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long).

1 Full Cord = 128 Gross Cubic Feet = ~85 Cubic Feet of Solid Wood

Because pickup trucks are usually loaded with a front loader (loosely tossed), logs settle randomly with large air gaps. A loosely tossed truckload requires roughly 160 to 180 cubic feet of bed volume to equal 1 full cord!

Firewood Weight & Heat Energy (BTU) by Species

Wood Species	Seasoned Weight (lbs/cord)	Green Weight (lbs/cord)	Heat Output (Million BTUs)	Heat Rating
White Oak	3,900 lbs	5,200 lbs	26.4 M	Top Tier
Shagbark Hickory	4,200 lbs	5,400 lbs	27.7 M	Top Tier
Sugar Maple	3,600 lbs	4,600 lbs	24.0 M	High
White Ash	3,450 lbs	4,300 lbs	23.6 M	High
Yellow Birch	3,500 lbs	4,700 lbs	21.8 M	Medium-High
Douglas Fir	2,900 lbs	3,800 lbs	18.1 M	Medium
White Pine	2,250 lbs	3,100 lbs	14.3 M	Low (Kindling)

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The Mathematics of a Firewood Cord

Firewood Weight & Heat Energy (BTU) by Species