How to buy firewood in Colorado
Cords, totes, Colorado rules, how much you need, and how to tell a good deal from a short load.
What is a cord?
A cord is the legal unit for firewood in Colorado: 128 cubic feet of wood that is stacked tightly, with the pieces lined up, touching and parallel. The usual shape is 4 ft high by 4 ft deep by 8 ft long. A half cord is 64 cubic feet and a quarter cord is 32.
What Colorado rules say
Colorado's Part 5 for fireplace and stove wood says firewood must be advertised, offered and sold by the cord or a fraction of a cord (or by the cubic meter), and it bans vague terms that do not tell you how much wood you are getting. Ask any seller for the amount in cords or cubic feet, in writing, and for a receipt. Source: 8 CCR 1202-14, Part 5 (Cornell LII); the Colorado Department of Agriculture enforces it.
How we measure: the tote
Our wood goes loose into a 4 x 4 x 4 foot tote (64 cubic feet of space). Loose wood takes more room than stacked wood, so a full tote holds about one-third of a stacked cord. We put that fraction on every price, so you can compare us with anyone selling by the cord.
How much firewood do you need?
- Occasional fires (fireplace, a few nights a week): about 1/3 to 2/3 cord (1 to 2 totes) for the season.
- Regular fires or a supplemental stove: about 1 to 2 cords.
- Main heat from a wood stove: several cords. Call and we will talk it through.
These are rules of thumb, not guarantees. Your house, stove and winter decide.
Doug fir: heat and burn time
Air-dried Douglas fir has about 20.7 million BTU per cord (Utah State University Extension), more than ponderosa pine (16.2) or aspen (18.2), less than oak (24.6 or more). It splits easily and has few sparks. It is a softwood, so it burns faster than oak. Details on the Doug fir page.
Seasoned wood
Seasoned wood has been dried long enough to burn well. Wet wood is harder to light, gives less heat and makes more smoke and creosote. Store your wood off the ground, covered on top and open on the sides.
Cord, half cord, tote: what to compare
| Amount | Cubic feet (stacked) | Our Doug fir |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cord | 32 | about 3/4 of a tote |
| 1/3 cord | about 43 | 1 tote |
| 1/2 cord | 64 | 1 1/2 totes |
| 1 cord | 128 | 3 totes |
Questions to ask any firewood seller
- How many cords, in cubic feet, am I getting?
- What species, and is it seasoned?
- Is delivery included? Is stacking?
- Will I get a receipt with the amount, the wood type and the price?
A note on ash and moving firewood
Emerald ash borer is confirmed in Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties. The Colorado State Forest Service advises against moving ash firewood (CSFS/CSU Extension EAB guide). We do not sell ash.