How to Know How Much Firewood to Order

At Rochester Firewood, the question we hear more than any other is how much firewood to order. It's a fair one, and getting it wrong in either direction is a hassle. Order too little and you're calling around during the coldest week of the year, when every firewood company in Monroe County is already booked out. Order too much and you've got a stack sitting through the summer, which is a far better problem to have. Whether you're heating your home with a wood stove all winter or keeping a small pile of campfire wood ready for weekend fires, here's exactly how to figure out the right amount.

Understanding How Firewood Is Measured

Before you can decide how much to buy, you need to know what you're buying. This is where most people get tripped up, and it's the reason firewood prices can look wildly different from one company to the next.

A face cord measures 4 feet high by 8 feet long, with pieces cut to roughly 16 inches deep. That works out to about 42 cubic feet, and it's how Rochester Firewood sells our wood. A full cord of wood is a different unit entirely, measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet for a total of 128 cubic feet, which is roughly three face cords stacked side by side. If a seller quotes you a price by the truckload, a rick, or a pile, ask what that means in cubic feet before you agree to anything, because none of those are standard measurements.

When we load our truck, we typically add 10 to 15% more than the measurement calls for, and you aren't charged for it. Our promise to every customer is that you will never be shorted on an order.

Use Our Firewood Calculator

If you'd rather not do the math yourself, we built a tool for exactly this. Our firewood calculator walks you through how you burn and gives you a recommended amount, so you can order with some confidence instead of guessing. It takes about a minute and it's the fastest way to answer this question.

How Much Firewood You'll Burn in a Season

How much wood you go through depends almost entirely on what you're using it for. A household that lights a few fall fires and a household heating with a wood stove all winter are looking at very different numbers.

If you're burning occasionally, maybe a fire pit on weekends through the fall, one face cord is often enough to get you through the season comfortably. Regular fireplace use or a wood stove running a few evenings a week typically lands somewhere around two to three face cords. If your wood stove is carrying a real share of your heating load through a Rochester winter, plan on four to eight face cords or more, depending on how cold you keep the house and how much of the work the stove is doing. Wood boiler customers make up our largest orders and are usually better served by our rough-cut chunk firewood, which is sold with a three cord minimum.

These are starting points rather than guarantees. If your situation falls between two of them, give us a call and we'll talk it through with you.

What Affects How Fast You Burn Through a Stack

Two homes with the same stove can burn very different amounts of wood, and the biggest factor is usually the wood itself. Seasoned firewood that has been dried for at least six months to a year has a moisture content below 20%, which means the heat goes into warming your house rather than boiling off water. Green or poorly seasoned wood burns cooler and faster, so you end up using more of it to get the same result. Rochester Firewood seasons every load a full year before we call it ready to burn.

Species matters too. Our mix includes local sustainably harvested hardwoods like maple, oak, hickory, beech, cherry, and locust, and the denser hardwoods carry noticeably more heat per piece than lighter woods. Your equipment plays a role as well, since a modern sealed wood stove pulls far more usable heat out of the same log than an open fireplace, where most of the heat goes straight up the chimney. Finally, the winter itself makes a difference. A mild season and a hard one can easily differ by a couple of face cords for a household heating with wood.

Why It's Better to Order Too Much Than Too Little

When you're on the fence between two amounts, round up. Properly seasoned firewood that is stored correctly doesn't go bad. Keep it elevated off the ground, covered on top with the sides left open for airflow, and any extra will be in excellent shape come next fall. You'll simply have a head start on the following winter.

Running out is the more expensive mistake. It almost always happens during a cold stretch, which is precisely when every firewood company in the area is fielding the same calls and delivery windows are at their longest.

When Should You Order Firewood?

Late summer and early fall are the best times to place a firewood order in Rochester. Deliveries are generally completed within one to two weeks of ordering, but that window stretches once the temperature drops and everyone remembers their woodpile at the same time.

Delivery within 20 miles is included with your order, and stacking is available if you'd rather not spend the afternoon on it. We'll give you a courtesy call when we're on our way, and we accept cash, all major credit cards, and checks, with orders paid in advance of delivery. Have your delivery spot picked out before the truck arrives and be specific when you order, because once firewood is delivered it can't be moved or exchanged. If you need more than 12 face cords, call us directly and we'll schedule it.

Contact Rochester Firewood Today

Figuring out how much firewood to buy comes down to three things: knowing what a face cord actually is, being honest about how you burn, and ordering before the rush. Whether you're heating your home all winter or stocking up for weekend fires, we're happy to help you land on the right number rather than have you guess.

Rochester Firewood is your trusted Rochester NY firewood company, offering firewood delivery straight to your door. Contact us today to find out where to get firewood in Rochester that's stacked, seasoned, and ready to burn.

Frequently Asked Questions About Firewood Quantities

Deciding how much firewood to order raises a lot of questions, especially if it's your first winter burning wood. Below, Rochester Firewood answers the questions we hear most often from homeowners across Monroe County.

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

A face cord measures 4 feet by 8 feet with pieces cut to about 16 inches, totaling roughly 42 cubic feet. A full cord of wood measures 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet, or 128 cubic feet, which works out to approximately three face cords. Rochester Firewood sells by the face cord, and we add 10 to 15% extra to every load at no charge.

How can I tell if firewood is properly seasoned?

Seasoned firewood feels lighter than it looks, often shows cracks radiating out from the center of the cut end, and the bark may be loose or falling away. Knock two pieces together and well-seasoned wood sounds hollow rather than dull. Moisture content should be below 20%. Every load we deliver has been seasoned a full year.

Can I order a small amount of firewood to start?

Yes. If you're new to burning wood and aren't sure what you'll go through, starting with a smaller order and reordering later in the season is a perfectly reasonable approach. Give us a call and we'll help you decide what makes sense for your setup.

Does firewood go bad if I don't burn it all?

Not if you store it properly. Keep it off the ground on a rack, cover only the top so the sides stay ventilated, and it will be ready to burn next season. Always use your oldest wood first so nothing sits indefinitely at the bottom of the pile.

How long does firewood delivery take in Rochester?

Deliveries are generally completed within one to two weeks of your order, and can be scheduled further in advance if you prefer. That timeline lengthens during peak season, which is why we recommend ordering in late summer or early fall rather than waiting for the first cold snap.