Firewood Calculator (cord, stere & m³)
Convert firewood volume between cord, stere/Raummeter, stacked m³ and loose m³ — plus weight by wood species. Free.
Enter your firewood volume in any unit — cords, steres (stacked cubic meters), loose cubic meters or stacked cubic feet — and get every other unit instantly, with an optional weight estimate based on air-dry density per species.
FAQ
How many steres are in a cord?
One full cord (128 stacked ft³) equals 3.625 stacked m³, so 1 cord ≈ 3.6 steres (Raummeter). Conversely, 1 stere ≈ 0.276 cord.
How much does 1 stere of firewood weigh?
Per stacked cubic metre (stere/Raummeter), using a 0.7 solid fraction: dry beech ≈ 504 kg, oak ≈ 525–539 kg, birch ≈ 434 kg, pine ≈ 350 kg and spruce ≈ 315 kg. A solid cubic metre (Festmeter) of the same species weighs the full density — 720 kg for beech. Pick a species above for an exact estimate.
What is the difference between loose and stacked cubic meters?
A stacked stere includes the air gaps between neatly stacked split logs; loose volume is the bulk pile before stacking. One stacked m³ ≈ 1.4 loose m³ — adjustable above (1.35–1.55 is typical).
What moisture should firewood be before burning?
Twenty percent moisture content or below — ideally 15–18%. Above that, a big share of the fire's energy goes to evaporating water instead of heating the room, and creosote builds up in the chimney.
How long should wood season?
Six to eighteen months stacked in the open air: split pieces dry faster, hardwoods take longer than softwoods, and the stack wants sun and wind through it with only the top covered. The meter decides readiness, not the calendar.
How many kilograms is a stacked cubic metre of oak?
Seasoned oak: roughly 500–550 kg per stacked m³ (about 0.7 solid × ~755 kg/m³). Green oak runs 650–700 kg — you are paying for and hauling water until it seasons.
How do I convert price per cord to price per cubic metre?
A cord is 128 ft³ = 3.62 m³ stacked. Divide the cord price by 3.62 for price per stacked m³ — and remember the solid-content caveat: a cord of crooked rounds holds less wood than a cord of neat splits at the same price.
How much firewood fits in a 20 ft container?
About 28 m³ usable, roughly 19–20 m³ solid after stacking gaps. At ~400 kg/m³ for seasoned beech that is 7.5–8 tonnes — well inside the container's ~28 t payload, so a 20 footer cubes out long before it weighs out.
Does species or moisture matter more for heat?
Moisture first: burning off water wastes energy no species can win back. Species second — denser wood means more kilograms and more energy per stacked cubic metre, which is why oak outperforms poplar at the same moisture.
How many cords heat a house for a winter?
Three to six cords is the common range for a cold-climate house as the main or backup heat, swinging with insulation, stove efficiency and how cold the winter runs. Milder climates on occasional use: one to two.
Is green firewood cheaper for a reason?
Yes — you are buying water. Green wood delivers less usable heat per kilogram, smokes more and fouls the flue. Compare prices per dry-equivalent solid volume, not per stacked unit, or the discount evaporates in steam.
How much does one stere of birch weigh?
Seasoned birch: about 450–500 kg per stacked m³ (≈ 0.7 solid × ~670 kg/m³ air-dry). Green birch adds roughly 200 kg of water to the same stack.