Firewood is a natural fuel source that has been used for centuries. Choosing the right firewood can be tricky because there are so many factors to consider. So how do you measure firewood? In this post, we will cover all of the different measurements and provide helpful tips on what to look for when purchasing wood.
Wood has been a valuable resource for humans since the beginning of time. It is used in many different ways from cooking to heating homes and even creating art. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can measure firewood using either pounds or cubic feet.
Tools needed for Measuring Wood
- Tape Measure or Measuring StickPencil/Pen & Paper – CalculatorFirewood Carrier (optional)
- A measuring stick or tape measure is the easiest tool to use when measuring firewood. Measuring sticks are sized in fractions of a foot rather than feet and inches like most other standard tools. The following steps show how to take measurements with this simple, yet effective tool:
- First find the end that has both metric and imperial units on it ans then choose which unit you will be using for your measurement. This stick has both so we’ll look at the larger number first – which would be meters (which is shown as “m” underneath). If your wood carrier only had one type of units listed, you could simply read directly off either side of this same ruler; however if they are different, the side that has the smallest unit of measure will be your exact measurement.
- Place one end of your stick at one edge of a log and hold it in place while you move along until you reach another point on this same piece; note where the top edge reaches to (in this case 0m20cm) – then find out what type (either feet or inches) is listed next to these numbers by looking underneath them for either “ft” or “in”. In our example here we can see that there are 20inches which means when measuring logs with an even diameter like roundwood, you would count up every second line after noting down your starting number (this forms part’s length). You should also make sure to take note of the type of unit being used on each side so you can add up the number correctly when measuring a whole stack or pile.
Now that we have our starting point, continue along with your stick until you reach another piece and note down where it reaches to in metric units (this one is 0m45cm) – then again find out what kind of measurement will be listed next to this by looking underneath for either “ft” or “in”. In roundwood measurements, every time there’s a footmark after a smaller figure like 20inches in this case, means that there’s been an increase by four inches which would equal 12inches per foot. This same principle also applies if you were using imperial measure except instead of feet and inches, you would instead count up by twelves which means every footmark after an inch mark would equal 12inches.
Again note down what number it reads to and then look underneath the end of your stick for either “ft” or “in”. For larger logs that are even in diameter like this one (which is about 19 inches), we’d continue measuring out these smaller parts length wise until we reach a point where there’s no more change; those pieces could be used as firewood but since they’re all less than 18inch long here – any piece over 18inch should ideally go on another pile.
If you’ll be stacking your wood neatly before cutting them into individual pieces later on (or need to carry some away from a pile to load into your vehicle), then using a carrier is the best option. This type of tool generally has four sides with each edge measuring either inches or feet and will allow you to easily keep track of how many logs are being transported at one time, which can make a big difference if there’s more than just you available to help out.
Just like when taking individual measurements for pieces that have even diameters, stackers should also use smaller parts length wise until they reach an area where no further change occurs; because this piece is about 19inches long – it would be perfect for loading up together since all small part lengths from here on out would measure over 18inches (which means those pieces won’t go as far). However, since there are two different types of units being used here – it’s best to look underneath the end for either “ft” or “in” then double check using your tape measure that both numbers actually match up.
Since all measurements on this tool read out in feet, you can see how every second line is an increase of four inches which means every foot mark after a smaller figure like 20 inches would equate to 12 inches per foot (so 21 inch equals 24 inches). If you were instead measuring with imperial measures, each inch listed next to the number will indicate twelve inches so if twenty was shown as 20in and thirty was 30in – those pieces should be cut into three parts length wise before they’re stacked together neatly.
What is Firewood?
Firewood is any wood that’s used for fuel. This term usually refers to the cord of wood, which is 128 cubic feet or (usually) split into 16 pieces. The standard measurement in Europe and most markets around North America is a full-sized truckload known as “truckload quantities” with one tonne per meter squared. Essentially, it’s all about how many “cords” you can fit in your vehicle when buying firewood or carrying it away after cutting down trees on land you own yourself.
Firewood is any wood that’s used for fuel. This term usually refers to the cord of wood, which is 128 cubic feet or (usually) split into 16 pieces. In most markets around North America, it’s all about how many “cords” you can fit in your vehicle when buying firewood or carrying it away after cutting down trees on land you own yourself.
How to Measure Firewood?
The best way to buy firewood is in bulk. That’s because you can save a lot of money by buying more than just one piece at once, and the price difference between getting it chopped into different sized pieces could be considerable too. It might not seem like much but when you get that extra cord or two then suddenly the savings really stack up!
To get a rough idea of how much firewood you need, measure the length and width of your fireplace. This will give you an approximation on what size pieces are needed. As a general rule, most people go with lengths between 16-18 inches long for their wood burner or stove. You can also check your local hardware store if they offer any recommendations based on the size of your hearth area – many times it’s enough just telling them where you live!
Measurements in Cubic Feet: A lot more accurate way though is measuring by volume using cubic feet as measurements. To do this, multiply the length x the height x 0.3048 (12″ = 12″) x the width.
This will give you a rough estimate of how much space your firewood is filling in cubic feet. To get an exact measurement, divide that by 27 to find out how many standard-sized face cord equivalents it would be (or simply use this calculator). That’s why we recommend buying at least four cords, as most people don’t need more than eight or ten full size load per winter season – and with a good splitting maul , even smaller pieces can provide enough warmth for large living spaces!
Tips for Measuring Firewood
Some people use the “lift and carry” method, which is fine as long as you can do it without hurting yourself. This involves picking up a log or two and seeing if that’s enough to fill your needs for one session or day. If not, keep going until you’re satisfied with the load size. However, this might not be an accurate way of measuring firewood because logs vary in weight depending on their type and moisture content (this will affect how quickly they burn). It’s also hard to estimate by looking at them alone since good quality wood may only measure slightly more than poor quality – but it packs much more heat per pound! For example: The bulk density of seasoned oak weighs 0.75 lb/cu ft while the bulk density of softwood weighs 0.55 lb/cu ft.
Smartphone Apps: Some people use their smartphone to measure firewood, which is fine as long as you can do it without hurting yourself or your phone! There are some apps that will assist with measuring and provide information on how much heat this particular load size is equivalent to, but they may not be 100% accurate for many reasons (e.g., moisture content). But it’s definitely better than trying to guess based only on sight, at least if you’re using a high quality app versus one installed by an unknown party from an untrusted source who knows what else might have been included in the download? For example: The “Wood Heat” app provides heat calculations, but it requires user input of species and moisture content.
- This is why the best way to measure firewood is by volume – which basically means cubic meters or feet (although there are other ways too). The easiest thing you can do here is use a measuring tape with both metric and standard measurements on it so that you can switch between them as needed without needing conversions for your project. Or if all else fails, estimate based on common log sizes! This involves estimating how big around a piece of wood would need to be in order to fill up a certain space inside the length-wise size of another log. For example: If two pieces fit side-by-side into one end of an average stove or fireplace then they’re probably about the same size.
- Use a measuring tape for both metric and standard measurements on it so that you can switch between them as needed without needing conversions for your project. Or if all else fails, estimate based on common log sizes! If two pieces fit side-by-side into one end of an average stove or fireplace then they’re probably about the same size.
Environmental Protection Measures
When you measure firewood for sale, it will be helpful to take environmental protection measures into consideration. The key environmental protection measures include:
Transporting firewood in clean, covered vehicles. This helps to reduce the risk of spilling any loose pieces during transport, and it also reduces the amount of dust that can contaminate other products around you.
Keeping piles away from roads or paths where people are walking is a good idea for safety reasons because falling branches could cause injuries. However, make sure your woodpile does not block entrances to these areas either—you want easy access when delivering your product!
Maintaining enough room between storage areas makes everything much more efficient in general. You will be able to move around easier without hurting yourself on sharp corners if there are less obstructions within designated storage spaces. It will also be easier to load your vehicles for delivery.
Safety Tips
- Always wear appropriate clothes to keep yourself comfortable, warm and safe. You can choose from a range of clothing options like long pants, gloves, boots or full-body suits.
- Firewood Stacking Tips # Storing firewood too close together could cause rot problems later on. Make sure you provide enough space between each piece so the air has room to circulate around them all. It will prevent moisture build up which means your firewood won’t combust as well when it’s time for use!
FAQs
How can I be sure that the firewood is suitable for my fireplace?
Any good supplier will give you a guarantee about their wood. And if they don't, then it's probably not very good quality. Try asking them how long this type of wood takes to burn and what kind of heat it gives out so you know exactly what your buying.
Is there a general rule for measuring firewood?
No, but as a guide measure the wood by standing it up or laying it down and then taking away or adding certain amounts to each measurement. If you have any other measurements that are not mentioned here just use your best judgement. Some homeowners prefer having more smaller pieces of wood rather than fewer larger logs so they can be kept in an efficient size range for burning over longer periods of time throughout the winter months. Smaller pieces will burn hotter and faster whereas bigger logs tend to give off less heat per hour therefore lasting longer! The type of fireplace also plays a major role when deciding what measurements you should go with because some produce much more heat than others do which means they will need more firewood to keep the fire hot.
How much does a cord of firewood weigh?
One full cord is usually considered to be between three and four thousand pounds. It will also measure about two meters high, two meters deep and eight feet long which may vary depending on the supplier or region that you live in. When buying a truck load of wood it's always best to clarify exactly how big your order is going to be because some companies use pieces of different sizes when their trucks are loaded up therefore giving out more than one type of measurement!
Conclusion
If you’re in a hurry and just want to know what size of wood you should be looking for when buying/storing, I recommend taking this table with you. It is based on my experience using these methods over years. The green row represents which length your piece of firewood needs to be if it’s going into the stove or fireplace while the red row shows how long pieces will fit under your axel without obstructing movement. For example, If I am getting 16-inch sticks that go into my stove then they need to be at least 24 inches long (green). However, if i’m storing them outside then they must get longer because wind could cause them to fall down.