Most homeowners need somewhere between a half cord and six cords of firewood for one winter. If you light a fire now and then for ambiance, a cord or less usually lasts the whole season. If wood is your main source of heat, plan on three to six cords. A good rule of thumb for our area is one to two cords for every 1,000 square feet you heat. Your real number depends on four things: your climate, your home size, how often you burn, and the kind of wood you choose. Here is how to land on the right amount.
How much firewood per winter, at a glance
Use this table as a starting point, then adjust for the details below.
| How you use it | Typical amount for the season |
|---|---|
| Occasional fires for ambiance (once or twice a week) | About a half cord to one cord |
| Regular fires most evenings, or heating one or two rooms | One to three cords |
| Wood stove or insert as your main heat source | Three to six cords |
| Large or drafty home heated mostly by wood | Six or more cords |
These ranges line up with guidance from the Chimney Safety Institute of America, which notes that a primary wood-heat home often burns three to six cords a season, while occasional fires use a cord or less.
The four things that change your number
1. Your climate
Cold winters burn more wood. In the colder Northeast, many homes use two to three cords per 1,000 square feet. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, where Corrin serves Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, one to two cords per 1,000 square feet is usually plenty for wood-heated space. A milder winter trims that number. A long cold snap pushes it up.
2. The size of the space you heat
You do not need to heat every room with wood. Many people use "zone heating," which means they warm only the rooms they live in most. Heating a single open living area takes far less wood than warming a whole two-story house. Smaller, well-sealed rooms warm up faster and hold heat longer, so check your windows and weatherstripping before the season starts.
3. How often you burn
A fire every night burns through a stack quickly. A weekend fire does not. Be honest about your habits. If you light up most evenings from December through February, plan on the higher end of your range.
4. The wood you choose
This is the big one. Dense hardwoods like oak and hickory burn longer and hotter than soft woods, so you need fewer logs to get the same heat. Heat output is measured in BTUs, and higher BTU wood stretches your supply. You can compare common species on our firewood BTU chart to see which woods give you the most heat per cord.
Cord, half cord, or face cord: what you are actually buying
Firewood is sold by the cord, and the wording trips a lot of people up. Here is the plain version.
| Term | Size | Roughly how much wood |
|---|---|---|
| Full cord | 4 ft high x 4 ft deep x 8 ft long (128 cubic feet) | The full amount |
| Half cord | Half of the above (64 cubic feet) | About half |
| Face cord (also called a rank) | 4 ft high x 8 ft long, but only one log deep | About one third of a full cord |
A face cord looks like a full cord from the front, but it is only as deep as one log, usually 16 inches. So a face cord is roughly a third of a full cord. Always ask a seller which one they mean and what the log length is before you compare prices. If two quotes look very different, this is usually why.
Dry wood means you burn less of it
Here is a tip that saves real money: dry wood does more work per log. Wet or "green" wood spends much of its energy boiling off water instead of making heat. That means a weak fire, more smoke, and more logs to stay warm.
The U.S. EPA recommends burning wood at a moisture content below 20 percent. You can check yours with an inexpensive moisture meter. The EPA's Best Wood-Burning Practices guide is a solid, no-nonsense resource.
Air-drying gets wood there, but it takes time. Softwoods need about six months. Dense hardwoods can take a year or more. Kiln-dried firewood skips the waiting. It is dried in a controlled kiln to well below the 20 percent mark, so it lights fast and burns clean from day one. Because it gives off more usable heat, you often go through less wood over a season than you would with so-so seasoned wood. We break down the difference in our guide on kiln-dried vs seasoned firewood.
Real-world examples
- The weekend fire fan. You have an open fireplace and light a fire on Friday and Saturday nights through the winter. A half cord to one cord will likely carry you through.
- The cozy-room heater. You run a wood stove most evenings to warm the living room and cut your gas bill. Plan on roughly two to three cords.
- The wood-heat household. A wood stove is your main heat for a 1,500 square foot home in the Mid-Atlantic. Figure on three to five cords of good hardwood, and keep a little buffer for a cold spell.
What does firewood cost?
Prices change with season, wood type, and your location, so treat these as ballpark figures, not quotes. A full cord of quality hardwood commonly runs a few hundred dollars. Softwood costs less. A face cord costs less than a full cord because it is less wood. Kiln-dried wood costs a bit more than green wood, since the drying is done for you and the wood is ready to burn.
A few things to confirm before you buy:
- Are they selling a full cord or a face cord?
- What is the log length?
- Is delivery included, and how far do they deliver?
- Is the wood ready to burn now, or does it still need to season?
Corrin delivers free within 20 miles of 19801 in Wilmington, with a small per-mile charge beyond that. You can see current options and pricing on our firewood shop page.
Buy local and store it right
Where your wood comes from matters more than most people think. Moving firewood long distances can carry invasive pests like the spotted lanternfly and the emerald ash borer into new areas. Both are active across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The national Don't Move Firewood campaign, run by The Nature Conservancy, sums up the rule simply: buy it where you burn it.
Local kiln-dried wood gives you an added edge here. The heat of the kiln process kills insects and eggs, so you are not hauling hitchhiking pests onto your property. It is a cleaner, safer way to stock up.
Once your wood arrives, store it well so it stays dry:
- Keep it off the ground on pallets, racks, or bricks.
- Cover only the top, not the sides, so air can move through the stack.
- Stack it a safe distance from the house to keep pests and rodents away.
- Bring a few days' worth indoors before you burn it.
A few safety basics
- Burn only dry, seasoned, or kiln-dried wood. Wet wood causes most smoke and creosote problems.
- Never burn trash, plastic, or pressure-treated lumber. These release harmful fumes.
- Have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly to manage creosote buildup.
- Put working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
Frequently asked questions
How long does one cord of firewood last?
It depends on how you burn it. For occasional fires, a single cord can last a full winter. As a main heat source, a cord might last a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on your stove and the cold.
Is a face cord the same as a full cord?
No. A face cord is about one third of a full cord. It is the same height and length as a full cord but only one log deep. Always confirm which one a seller means.
How many cords do I need to heat a 1,500 square foot home?
In the Mid-Atlantic, a wood-heated home of that size usually needs about three to five cords of good hardwood for the winter. Colder regions need more.
Should I buy hardwood or softwood?
For heating, hardwoods like oak and hickory are the better value. They burn longer and hotter, so you use fewer logs. Softwood lights easily and works well as kindling or for quick outdoor fires.
Can I burn firewood right after I buy it?
Only if it is dry. Green wood needs months of seasoning first. Kiln-dried firewood is ready to burn the day it arrives, which is why many homeowners prefer it.
How do I know if my firewood is dry enough?
Dry wood is lighter, has cracks at the ends, and sounds hollow when two pieces are knocked together. For a sure answer, use a moisture meter and look for a reading under 20 percent.
Ready to stock up for the season?
If you would like help picking the right amount, we are happy to talk it through. Corrin's kiln-dried firewood lights easily, burns clean, and shows up ready to use, with free delivery within 20 miles of Wilmington. Shop firewood or get in touch with any questions. Serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.