What Is A Rick Of Wood? (Size, Weight, Price, Look)

It’s one of the most common ways that people organize firewood to dry it. For centuries, people have been stacking their firewood into rick/cord in order to make sure they are able to use it when they need it.

In this article, I will go over everything you need to know about a rick of wood. The size, weight, price, and how it looks like.

What Is A Rick Of Wood? So, let’s start with the most important thing which is…

What Is A Rick Of Wood?

A rick of wood is a traditional unit of measurement for firewood and is generally stacked 4 feet high and 8 feet long, and is often referred to as a face cord of wood.

The width of the logs in a rick of wood varies based on the firewood supplier, location, local market, and so on. This form is also known as a face cord of wood since it resembles a face in profile.

Looking For A Log Splitter? View Them HERE

The length of a single piece of rick wood (or face cord) is generally 12, 16, or 24 inches long. This means that each firewood log in the stack will be one of these three sizes.

The most common length for a rick firewood log is 16 inches.

Read More: [12 BEST] Firewood To Burn In A Fire Pit (and NOT)

Where Does The Term Rick Of Wood Come From?

The word “rick” comes from the Old English word hrēac, which meant stack or pile, usually of farm-related items such as hay, wood, corn, and other things.

The name has made its way to North America and is still widespread in the midwest United States.

Snippet from the Oxford dictionary A Rick (Entry 1 of 3) 1 : a stack (as of hay) in the open air. 2 : a pile of material (such as cordwood) splits from short logs.

How Much Wood Is in A Rick?

Depending on the size of the wood in the pile it ranges from 275 to 325 pieces but on average there are 300 pieces in a rick of wood.

And on average there are between 550 and 650 pieces of wood in a cord of wood

If you don’t want the risk of losing money, be sure to talk with the dealer about the length before making arrangements.

The length of the wood in each region varies, so plan ahead and contact your supplier.

You don’t want to prepare for a certain quantity of wood only to discover that you have less than you anticipated.

Referring to the table below you can work out how much wood you will get with the different lengths of wood.

How Much Wood Is In A Rick Of Firewood

Firewood Length	QTY Per Rick	Also Known As
12″	275 Pieces	1/4 cord
16″	300 Pieces	1/3 cord
24″	325 Pieces	1/2 cord

How Much Does A Rick Of Wood Weigh?

A rick of wood can weigh anything from 625 to 2,750 pounds depending on the type of wood you choose low-density wood to higher-density wood

Because this issue is so subjective, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Because trees like spruce are lighter than oak and other heavy woods, a single rick of these might weigh around 2,500 pounds.

Oak and other thick woods, on the other hand, weigh more significantly – roughly 5,500 pounds per rick.

How Much Does A Rick Of Wood Weigh?

Type Of Wood	Weight/Rick (lbs)	Quality
Black Locust	4,172 lbs	Excellent
Hickory	4,072 lbs	Excellent
Oak (White)	3,576 lbs	Excellent
Beech	3,660 lbs	Excellent
Ash	3,471 lbs	Excellent
Mulberry	3,702 lbs	Excellent
Black Cherry	2,922 lbs	Good
Maple (Hard)	3,308 lbs	Good
Black Walnut	3,190 lbs	Good
Birch	2,972 lbs	Poor
Sycamore	2,862 lbs	Poor
Maple (Soft)	2,762 lbs	Poor
Elm	2,873 lbs	Poor
Aspen	2,160 lbs	Poor
Pine (Southern Yellow)	2,926 lbs	Poor
Spruce	2,800 lbs	Poor

How Much Does A Cord Of Firewood Weigh?

Type Of Wood	Cord Weight(pounds) DRY	Cord Weight(pounds) WET
Alder, Red	2000 – 2600	3200 – 4100
Ash	2680 – 3450	4630 – 5460
Aspen	1860 – 2400	3020 – 3880
Beech	3100 – 4000	4890 – 6290
Birch	2840 – 3650	4630 – 5960
Cedar, Incense	1800 – 2350	3020 – 3880
Cedar, Port Orford	2100 – 2700	3400 – 4370
Cherry	2450 – 3150	4100 – 5275
Chinquapin	2580 – 3450	3670 – 4720
Cottonwood	1730 – 2225	2700 – 3475
Dogwood	3130 – 4025	5070 – 6520
Douglas-Fir	2400 – 3075	3930 – 5050
Elm	2450 – 3150	4070 – 5170
Eucalyptus	3550 – 4560	6470 – 7320
Fir, Grand	1800 – 2330	3020 – 3880
Fir, Red	1860 – 2400	3140 – 4040
Fir, White	1900 – 2450	3190 – 4100
Hemlock, Western	2200 – 2830	4460 – 5730
Juniper, Western	2400 – 3050	4225 – 5410
Laurel, California	2690 – 3450	4460 – 5730
Locust, Black	3230 – 4150	6030 – 7750
Madrone	3180 – 4086	5070 – 6520
Magnolia	2440 – 3140	4020 – 5170
Maple, Big Leaf	2350 – 3000	3840 – 4940
Oak, Black	2821 – 3625	4450 – 5725
Oak, Live	3766 – 4840	6120 – 7870
Oak, White	2880 – 3710	4890 – 6290
Pine, Jeffery	1960 – 2520	3320 – 4270
Pine, Lodgepole	2000 – 2580	3320 – 4270
Pine, Ponderosa	1960 – 2520	3370 – 4270
Pine, Sugar	1960 – 2270	2970 – 3820
Redwood, Coast	1810 – 2330	3140 – 4040
Spruce, Sitka	1960 – 2520	3190 – 4100
Sweetgum (Liquidambar)	2255 – 2900	4545 – 5840
Sycamore	2390 – 3080	4020 – 5170
Tanoak	2845 – 3650	4770 – 6070
Walnut, Black	2680 – 3450	4450 – 5725
Western Red Cedar	1570 – 2000	2700 – 3475
Willow, Black	1910 – 2450	3140 – 4040

How Much Does A Rick Of Wood Cost?

Rick of Wood Cost: Expect to pay between $40 and 60$ for a rick but some people have reported to pay up to $250 for oak. Price varies depending on location and type of wood being sold.

The cost of wood varies considerably depending on the kind (black locust, red oak, maple, and so on), if it has been seasoned, how it was seasoned (air or kiln dried), the local market in which it is bought, and sold, and so on.

With all of these variables taken into account, you’re more likely to receive a broad range rather than a specific price.

To save money on delivery charges, some people choose to collect the wood themselves. While this may be convenient, not everyone has a vehicle available to load their own firewood.

So, if you want it delivered, expect to pay around $1 to $2 per mile when the truck is loaded.

Some suppliers will charge just for as long as a specific number of miles have been driven in order to keep costs under control.

It couldn’t hurt to inquire about free delivery if you’re getting your first rick of firewood delivered.

There are several providers who will deliver wood for free but bear in mind the cost when budgeting and looking around for different companies.

You’d rather plan ahead and not have to pay the fee than not plan for the fee and be surprised by an additional cost.

How Much Should I Pay For A Rick Of Wood? Depending on the type of wood and location anything from $150 to $250 per rick of wood.

How Big Is Half A Rick Of Wood?

A typical rick is made out of a stack of wood measuring 4 ft. X 8 ft. X 16 in., with a volume of about 128 cubic feet, half this is 64 cubic feet. However, because it is a generic term, the precise dimensions vary.

For example, a rick of wood is typically used to describe the amount that will fit into an area with dimensions of X feet by Y feet.

In the US, it is generally assumed that 1 rick measures 3 face cords or 2 tiers, or 10’x4’x8′, though there are variations from region to region.

In the US, a load of firewood is typically sold as a face cord or as “Chord Measure”, with 8 ft being the most common length. A chord measure of wood is 4′ wide, 4′ high, and usually has a length of 16′.

Which Is More A Rick Or A Cord Of Wood?

The short answer to this question is a ‘rick’ of wood refers to a stack of firewood that measures less than a full cord.

To be more precise, a rick or face cord is normally considered to be one-third of a standard cord.

A half-cord is different from a rick, as the stack measures four feet high by eight feet long and four feet wide.

However, there are places where this definition does not hold true. In other locations, the measurement for a half-cord can equal slightly more or slightly less than one-third of a standard cord.

How Do You Stack A Rick Of Wood?

The key with stacking firewood (rick) is airflow, when it’s nice and dry, then it’s seasoned all that wood.  

You always want an airflow over the top of the pile, but not underneath your pile, or your stack will rot out from underneath you and there goes $150 worth of seasoned firewood into a nice warm wood stove room floor.

If you’re obeying this rule and stacking wood right, there should be no water pooling under the stack after it rains.  

The only thing you should have to do is pull back the top sticks of your woodpile and let them dry out after a rainstorm, but even if they are wet, your pile is being drawn from on top instead of on the bottom.

Read More: How To Stack the [PERFECT] Firewood for Your Fire Pit

How Do You Store A Rick Of Wood?

Storing firewood requires that you pay attention to both the air and moisture content of your wood. Storing seasoned (dry) firewood off the ground in a well-ventilated area is best for keeping it dry and away from bugs.

Seasoned logs should be split, stacked off the ground using pallets or cinder blocks (not wet or damp grass), covered with tarps, or stored inside a building if necessary.

If you uncover stored firewood occasionally to check on it, make sure to cover it back up as soon as possible to keep bugs out.

What Does A Rick Of Wood Look Like?

Here are some examples of how a rick of wood looks like:

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Where Can I Buy A Rick Of Wood Near Me?

Been out of luck lately, trying to get your hands on some wood? We’ve done the research for you – here are the places that turn up when you search “wood” near me.

You can also check out our map below!

• Woodbridge, VA
• Molar City, CA
• Barnesville, OH
• Hook Island, AZ
• Pine Tree Acres, AK
• Summer Hill Village, TN
• Honea Path, SC
• Darlington, WI
• Log Cabin Village, AR
• Bushnell, FL
• Glouster, OH
• Natchez, MS

How Much Is A Rick Of Wood In Oklahoma?

The Firewood Lot in Oklahoma is offering hickory for $63 per rick, or a stack of wood four by eight feet in size. A rick of hickory has been advertised for up to $90 in classified ads.

The Farm & Garden in Oklahoma offered the most expensive prices for hickory, with a delivery and stacking charge of $79.95 per rick, which was higher than all other lots evaluated.

Is A Rick Of Wood The Same As A Cord Of Wood?

There seems to be some confusion about what a cord and a rick of wood measurements actually mean. The fact is, both terms for this firewood unit are interchangeable in meaning.

The term “cord” has been used more often in the past, but either term means the same thing: a stack of wood 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long or 128 cubic feet, which equals 128 cubic yards or 3/4 of a ton.

For example, if someone said you need three cords of wood for your fireplace before winter sets in, they’re referring to three stacks that measure 128 cubic feet each.

Nowadays it’s common for firewood suppliers to sell their product by the 1/2 cord , which is 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long = 64 cubic feet (half of 128 cubic feet), which equals 1/2 the volume of a full cord.

You’ll also hear firewood suppliers refer to their product as “face cords” or “green cords”. The main difference between these units and the familiar cord unit is that these terms are actually fractions instead of whole numbers like a true cord.

How Many Ricks of Firewood Do I Need?

For 1 season, a 1,000-square-foot home will require three cords of wood. If your wood stove is high-efficiency or if you reside in a warmer climate, you may need less.

The answer depends upon many factors, but one of the most important is your climate. For instance, if you live in Northern New Hampshire where winters are long and cold, then you will likely require more firewood than if you lived in Georgia where temperatures rarely fall below freezing.

Your specific location within each state will also have an effect on how much rick of wood you’ll need to buy each year for fuel.

Will A Rick Of Wood Fit In A Pickup?

Yes, but it depends on what size your pickup is. If you have a larger truck, like a crew cab or full-sized, it probably will. But some standard pickups might only be able to fit around half of a rick of wood in the truck bed.

Conclusion

Now that you know what a rick of wood is and if you’re looking for a great way to keep your home warm this winter without spending too much money, it might be time to invest in a good quality rick of wood rather than relying on more expensive options like natural gas heating systems.

Resources:

Google Maps

Oxford Dictionary