Key takeaways
- Ask for cords or fractions of a cord, in writing.
- Test moisture on a freshly split face; the EPA says burn below 20 percent.
- Stack off the ground, cover only the top and keep the pile out of the first 5 feet around the house.
- Battle Born sells firewood from its Carson City yard; call for availability and pricing.
A full cord is a tightly stacked 4 by 4 by 8 feet, or 128 cubic feet. Words like face cord, rick and truckload do not have one fixed meaning, so use the cord as your yardstick.
What is a cord of wood?
A full cord is a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, which is 128 cubic feet of wood stacked tightly. The National Conference on Weights and Measures publishes buyer guidance on this and warns that vague terms make it hard to compare sellers.
Loose wood dumped from a truck takes up more room than the same wood stacked. That is why delivered wood should be stacked and then measured. Multiply the height, width and length of the stack in feet and divide by 128. Our cord guide has the worked example.
How dry should firewood be?
The EPA says firewood burns best below 20 percent moisture content and recommends checking with a moisture meter. Wet wood weighs more and burns poorly, and a cord of green wood and a cord of dry wood are the same volume and very different fuel. The EPA's seasoning guidance is at least 6 months for softwood and at least 12 months for hardwood, as minimums.
Ask the seller how long the wood has been split and dry. If it is not ready, keep it for next year and burn your driest pieces first.
How do you stack and store it?
Keep wood outdoors and off the ground. Cover only the top, since covering the sides holds in moisture. Put the pile where air and sun can reach it. Our guide to seasoning and stacking firewood goes step by step.
Where should the woodpile go?
Not against the house. University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Living With Fire guide asks for woodpiles to be cleared from Zone 0, the first 5 feet around a building. Your fire agency may ask for more. This is the same advice as in defensible space before winter.
Why should you buy local?
Moving firewood can move insects and disease with it. Don't Move Firewood lists Nevada among the states with firewood rules, and advises buying local and burning it where you buy it. See Nevada firewood rules. In Washoe County, burn-code days also apply in winter; check Northern Nevada Public Health's Know the Code program before you light a fire.
Does Battle Born sell firewood?
Yes. We sell a variety of Reno firewood from our Carson City yard at 6301 US Highway 50 East, and we also have wood chips. We do not publish prices or amounts online, so call the office at 775.232.8243 for availability and pricing. When you call, ask the same questions in this post and ask us to state the amount in cords. See firewood and wood chips.
A few practical points for delivery day. Measure when the wood is stacked, not when it is dumped. Ask where the seller wants it dropped, and plan a stacking spot ahead of time so the wood does not sit on bare ground. Keep a receipt that states the amount and the date. If you heat with wood, order early in the season instead of waiting for a cold snap.
Sources
- NIST / National Conference on Weights and Measures: Get What You Pay For, How to Protect Yourself When Buying Firewood (PDF) (read October 17, 2026)
- US EPA Burn Wise: Best Wood Burning Practices (read October 17, 2026)
- Don't Move Firewood: Nevada (read October 1, 2026)
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire (SP-23-07) (read October 17, 2026)