Firewood Buying Guide: Cords, Prices, and When to Buy
Everything you need to compare firewood quotes in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Prices on this page come only from the dealers we list, and each state's rules link to the state agency that enforces them. See how this directory is built.
Buying firewood in fall
- This is peak season. Demand is highest, and seasoned wood can sell out, so order soon and get two or three quotes.
- Ask every dealer when the wood was cut and split. Wood split this year is often not dry enough to burn well this winter.
- Check a few pieces with a moisture meter when the load arrives (split one open and test the fresh face). Under 20% is ready to burn.
- Green wood bought now is for next winter, not this one.
What a cord costs right now
Full-cord prices published by the dealers in our directory. A price counts only while we have confirmed it on the dealer's page (or had it from the dealer) in the last 45 days, so this table changes as dealers update.
| State | Dealers listed | With a price | Price range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 30 | 4 | $240 to $1200 | $550 |
| New Hampshire | 30 | 9 | $415 to $529 | $495 |
| Maine | 40 | 11 | $325 to $525 | $375 |
| Vermont | 26 | 7 | $250 to $450 | $425 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | 16 | $295 to $650 | $423 |
| New York | 51 | 10 | $285 to $450 | $395 |
| New Jersey | 37 | 16 | $225 to $700 | $360 |
| Pennsylvania | 41 | 19 | $250 to $600 | $315 |
Read the price range with care. The cheapest listing is usually seasoned wood dumped in the driveway within a short delivery radius, and the most expensive is often kiln-dried wood delivered and stacked. Each state page shows what every quote includes.
Cord, face cord, and the rest
A full cord is a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long: 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood. It is the standard legal unit for selling firewood in most of the states we cover, and it is the unit that lets you compare prices fairly. In Massachusetts sellers must quote by the cubic foot instead (a price for 128 cubic feet is a full-cord price), and in New York the seller must state the three dimensions of the stack, whatever they call it.
A face cord (also called a rick or a stove cord) is one row 4 feet high and 8 feet long, as deep as the logs are long. Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey do not allow firewood to be sold by the face cord. Maine does, as long as the log length is agreed, and New York does when the seller gives all three dimensions. Many New York dealers we list price only by the face cord, so check the log length before you compare. Its size depends entirely on log length:
| Log length | Face cord volume | Share of a full cord |
|---|---|---|
| 12 inch | 32 cubic feet | one quarter of a cord |
| 16 inch | 43 cubic feet | one third of a cord |
| 18 inch | 48 cubic feet | three eighths of a cord |
| 24 inch | 64 cubic feet | one half of a cord |
A "truckload", "pickup load", or "yard" is not a cord. If a dealer quotes one, ask how many cords it is before you compare.
Convert a quote to a full-cord price
Enter a price to see the full-cord equivalent.
How to check you got a full cord
- Stack the wood tightly, then measure length, height, and depth in feet and multiply. A full cord is 128 cubic feet; a half cord is 64.
- A loose, thrown pile takes up more space than the same wood stacked, so a dumped load will look bigger than it is. Maine law puts a loose cord at 180 cubic feet for 12 or 16 inch wood. Measure after stacking.
- Get a delivery ticket or receipt with the dealer's name, the amount, and the price, and keep it until the wood is stacked and measured. Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania require one; New Hampshire tells buyers to insist on one.
- If the load comes up short, call the dealer first. If that does not resolve it, contact your state's agency in the state rules below.
Seasoned, green, or kiln-dried
Moisture is what you are really paying for. Freshly cut green wood is mostly water. It is the cheapest, but it smokes, burns cool, and builds creosote in the chimney until it dries. Seasoned wood has been split and air-dried, typically for six months or more. Kiln-dried wood is dried with heat; it costs the most but is ready to burn the day it arrives.
- The test that settles it: split a piece and check the fresh face with a moisture meter. Under 20% moisture is ready to burn.
- Without a meter, seasoned wood is noticeably lighter, often shows cracks in the ends, and two pieces knocked together sound hollow rather than dull.
- Ask every dealer when the wood was cut and split, not just whether it is "seasoned". In Connecticut the word has a legal meaning (cut and air-dried for at least six months); elsewhere, the cut date is what tells you.
Delivery and stacking change the real price
Two quotes for the same number are not the same deal. Ask whether delivery to your town is included or billed by the mile, whether there is a minimum order, and whether the load is dumped or stacked. Stacking is usually extra when it is offered at all. The cost of a cord delivered to your driveway is the number to compare.
Buying through the year
| Season | What to know |
|---|---|
| Spring | This is the best time to buy for next winter. Green wood is usually the cheapest, and split wood stacked now has the whole summer to dry. |
| Summer | Dealers generally have the most choice now, before the fall rush. |
| Fall | This is peak season. Demand is highest, and seasoned wood can sell out, so order soon and get two or three quotes. |
| Winter | Seasoned wood is at its scarcest now, so call a few dealers before you assume anyone is sold out. |
Firewood rules by state
Each state sets its own rules on how firewood is measured and sold, and on bringing firewood in from elsewhere. The summaries below link to the official source; check it before you rely on a detail.
Connecticut
- Firewood must be sold by the cord (128 cubic feet) or a fraction of a cord, by cubic volume, or by weight. "Face cord", "rack", "pile", and "truckload" are not allowed. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 43-27)
- "Seasoned" has a legal meaning in Connecticut: wood cut and air-dried for at least six months. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 43-27)
- Every delivery of loose firewood must come with a delivery ticket showing the seller and buyer, the date, the amount, the price, and a description of the wood. (CT Department of Consumer Protection)
- Short-measure complaints go to the Department of Consumer Protection, Weights and Measures. (How to buy firewood, CT DCP)
- Firewood brought in from another state needs a state permit or a heat-treatment certificate. (CT DEEP, movement of firewood)
New Hampshire
- Firewood is sold by the cord: 128 cubic feet, ranked and well stowed. "Truckload", "face cord", "rack", and "pile" are not allowed. (NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food)
- Get a receipt with the seller's name, address, and phone number, the quantity ordered and delivered, and how you paid. Avoid paying in advance, and pay for each delivery separately. (NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food)
- Uncertified firewood from out of state is banned. Only wood certified as heat-treated may be brought in. (NH forest pests and firewood)
- Complaints about a short delivery go to the Division of Weights and Measures. Stack the wood first so it can be measured. (NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food)
Maine
- A standard cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. Maine law also defines a face cord (4 by 8 feet, log length as agreed) and a loose cord of thrown wood: 180 cubic feet for 12 or 16 inch wood, 195 cubic feet for 24 inch wood. (10 M.R.S. § 2302)
- Firewood from out of state is banned unless it is certified as heat-treated. Wood that is only "kiln-dried" or "seasoned" does not qualify. (Maine Forest Service)
- The Maine Forest Service publishes a voluntary list of firewood dealers by county and town. It is not a license register, and the state does not endorse the businesses on it. (Maine firewood dealers list (PDF))
- Short-measure complaints go to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Weights and Measures. (Maine Quality Assurance and Regulations)
Vermont
- The cord is the only legal measure for firewood. "Face cord", "rack", "stove cord", and "truckload" are not allowed. (Vermont Agency of Agriculture)
- The supplier must give you an invoice with their name, address, and phone number, your name and address, the delivery date, the cords delivered, the price per cord, and a description of the wood. (Vermont Agency of Agriculture)
- Untreated firewood from out of state is banned. Only wood heat-treated and certified at an approved facility may enter. (Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation)
- Short-measure complaints go to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Weights and Measures. (Vermont Agency of Agriculture)
Massachusetts
- Firewood must be advertised and sold by the cubic foot or cubic meter, not by the cord. A price for 128 cubic feet is a full-cord price. "Truckload", "face cord", and "pile" have no legal meaning. (Mass.gov, firewood sales)
- The seller must give you a delivery ticket or invoice at delivery showing the amount in cubic feet or meters, both names and addresses, the date, and the total price. (M.G.L. c. 94 § 299)
- Stack and measure the wood before you use any of it, and take dated photos within 72 hours of delivery if it looks short. (Mass.gov, firewood sales)
- If the seller will not fix a short delivery, file a complaint with the Division of Standards. (Mass.gov, firewood sales)
New York
- When firewood is advertised, offered, or sold at retail, the seller must state all three dimensions of the stacked wood in feet and inches. A word like cord, face cord, rack, or truckload may be added, but only next to those dimensions. This does not apply to unpackaged wood you looked at before you bought it. (New York regulation 1 NYCRR 221.13(13), wood for fuel)
- A cord is 128 cubic feet of wood, stacked in a tight row with the pieces touching and parallel. A face cord is the 4 foot by 8 foot front of a cord, and its depth is the length of the cut pieces. The seller must give the dimensions whenever the term face cord is used. (New York regulation 1 NYCRR 221.13(13), wood for fuel)
- When unpackaged firewood is sold, the seller must give you a delivery ticket, invoice, or receipt. It must show the seller's name and address, the date of sale, the quantity or dimensions of the wood, and the price. If wood is sold as seasoned, the seller must say how long and how it was seasoned. (New York regulation 1 NYCRR 221.13(13), wood for fuel)
- Untreated firewood grown in New York may not be moved more than 50 miles from its source, unless it was heat treated to 160 F for 75 minutes. Untreated firewood may not be brought into New York from another state or country. Purchased untreated firewood you transport must have a receipt or label that shows where it came from. (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Protect Our Trees by Using Local Firewood)
- Short-measure complaints go to your local weights and measures office. New York has 60 county and city weights and measures departments, and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets lists them. (NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Weights and Measures)
New Jersey
- Firewood must be advertised and sold only by the cord and fractions of a cord, or by the cubic meter. A cord is 128 cubic feet of wood stacked in a tight row with the pieces touching and parallel. Sellers may not use "face cord", "rack", "pile", "truckload", or similar terms. New Jersey makes this national standard part of its own rules. (NIST Handbook 130 (2018), Method of Sale section 2.4, adopted by New Jersey in N.J.A.C. 13:47C-3.1)
- When loose firewood is sold, the seller must give you a delivery ticket or sales invoice. It must list the seller's name and address, your name and address, the delivery date, the quantity delivered (and the quantity the price is based on, if different), the price, and a description of the wood, including any quality claims. (NIST Handbook 130 (2018), Method of Sale section 2.4.5, adopted by New Jersey in N.J.A.C. 13:47C-3.1)
- New Jersey adds its own rules. The delivery ticket or invoice must carry a serial number, and the seller must keep a copy for at least six months. Firewood can be checked by a weights and measures officer in transit, at delivery, or at any reasonable time after delivery. (N.J.A.C. 13:47C-3.1, Wood for use as fuel or flavoring (NJ Office of Weights and Measures))
- All of New Jersey is under a spotted lanternfly quarantine, and firewood of any species is a regulated article. Inspect vehicles, trailers, and outdoor items before you move them. Businesses that move items within or out of the quarantine zone need a state permit. (NJ Department of Agriculture, Spotted Lanternfly Homeowner Resources)
- Short-measure complaints go to the New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures or to your county or municipal weights and measures office. (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of Weights and Measures)
Pennsylvania
- Wood used for fuel must be sold by the cord of 128 cubic feet, or a fraction of a cord. (70 Pa. Code § 23.107, Wood)
- Every firewood sale must come with a statement or invoice that certifies the amount sold. It must be given to you, or someone you name, at delivery or when you are billed. (70 Pa. Code § 23.107, Wood)
- Firewood from outside Pennsylvania that is brought into the state or sold here must be certified heat treated, meaning 160 F at the core for 75 minutes, and labeled. The same applies to firewood from parts of Pennsylvania under a plant pest quarantine. Firewood cut in parts of Pennsylvania not under such a quarantine is exempt. (PA Department of Agriculture, Firewood Quarantine Order, 54 Pa.B. 7565 (November 23, 2024))
- Pennsylvania has a spotted lanternfly quarantine, and firewood of any species is a regulated article. Moving any living stage of the insect is prohibited, and all residents and businesses must follow the quarantine order. (PA Department of Agriculture, Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and Permitting)
- Firewood sales are regulated by the Division of Weights and Measures at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which takes complaints through an online form. (PA Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures)
Don't move firewood
Firewood carries insects and diseases that kill trees, including the emerald ash borer. Buy firewood close to where you will burn it, and do not carry leftover wood home from a campsite or across a state line. If you must bring wood with you, buy firewood certified as heat treated.
Want prices for your area?
Most dealers quote by phone. Send one request and dealers serving your area can respond by email or phone. Free, and we never sell your information.
Firewood Buying FAQ
How much does a cord of firewood cost in the Northeast?
Across the 8 states we cover, 92 of 295 listed dealers publish a full-cord price right now. Those prices run from $225 to $1200, with a median of $385. The spread is mostly wood type and service: a green or seasoned cord dumped in the driveway costs far less than a kiln-dried cord delivered and stacked.
What is a face cord, and how many are in a full cord?
A face cord is one row of wood 4 feet high and 8 feet long, as deep as the logs are long. With 16 inch logs, a common length, it is one third of a full cord, so three face cords make a cord. With 12 inch logs it is a quarter cord, and with 24 inch logs it is half a cord. Maine allows sales by the face cord, and New York allows it when the seller states all three dimensions; Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey do not. Always ask the log length before comparing a face-cord price with a full-cord price.
How do I know I got a full cord?
Stack the wood tightly and measure it. Multiply length by height by depth in feet: a full cord is 128 cubic feet. A pile 4 feet high and 16 inches deep, for example, needs to be 24 feet long to be a full cord. Keep the delivery ticket, and if the wood comes up short, contact the dealer first and then the state agency listed in the state rules on this page.
How can I tell if firewood is seasoned?
Split a piece and test the freshly exposed face with a moisture meter. Wood under 20% moisture is ready to burn. Without a meter, seasoned wood is lighter than green wood, often has cracks in the ends, and two pieces knocked together sound hollow rather than dull.
When is the best time to buy firewood?
Spring is the best time to buy for the coming winter, because green wood is cheapest then and has all summer to dry. Summer still gives you the most choice from dealers. Fall is peak season, when seasoned wood can sell out and delivery slots fill up.
Can I bring firewood from another state?
Usually not. Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania restrict untreated firewood from out of state to slow the spread of tree-killing insects, and certified heat-treated wood is the main exception. New York also bars moving untreated firewood more than 50 miles from where it was cut, and New Jersey and Pennsylvania regulate firewood under their spotted lanternfly quarantines. We did not find a statewide ban in Massachusetts, but the same advice applies everywhere: buy firewood near where you will burn it. The state rules on this page link to each agency.