What is a rick of wood? If you’re new to firewood, it can be confusing to know what you are buying. Wood is sold by volume and there are different terms used to describe those measures. This article gives you the scoop. You’ll learn the difference between a rick and a cord. Find out how much wood is in a rick and figure out what you need to order! You can purchase knowing exactly how much fuel you’ll be getting.
The problem with using this term is that it can be confusing if you do not know what it means. It is hard to know if the price you are paying is fair. It becomes difficult to estimate your firewood needs.
In this article, we discuss what a rick of firewood means. We will also compare a rick and a cord of wood. Discover how many logs are in a rick of wood and answer some of the most frequently asked questions on this subject.
What Is a Rick of Wood?
A Rick is a measurement that describes how a cord of wood is stacked. It basically describes a pile of firewood that is eight feet in length and four feet high. The one thing that varies is the width of the wood.
They are most commonly 16 inches in length, but they are also available in 12 and 24 inches lengths.
Fun Fact: the word rick can also be used to describe any pile of material in the open air, such as hay, corn, or straw. It is usually piled into a regular shape like a rectangle.
Why Is It Called a Rick of Wood?
I grew up in rural England, and we would often play in the piles of hay we called hayricks. So, I suspected the word had English origins.
I looked it up to find out. Sure enough, the term rick has been in use for over a thousand years. The name derives from the Old English word hreac, which means a stack of hay or straw. This word may come from the Norse word hraukr. People use it to describe piles of harvested crops, including hay, wood, corn, and straw.
The term came to North America with the early settlers and many people still used it today. You may also hear a rick of wood described as a face cord or a rank/rack of firewood.
Rick of Wood vs. Cord of Wood
As we have established, a rick of wood describes a stack of wood piled in a rectangle measuring 4 by 8 feet. The width of the rick depends on the supplier and how long they cut their logs. This varies from place to place.
A cord of wood is another way to measure a stack of wood. This one has standard measurements for all dimensions. They are 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. So, when you buy a cord of wood, the width of the stack is always the same.
A rick and cord of wood are identical in both length and height. But the width differs. A cord of wood holds more than a rick. How much more depends on how wide the rick is.
Let’s look at the three most common sizes
- If your rick has 12-inch logs, you have one-quarter of a cord. You will need to purchase 4 ricks to get 1 cord.
- A rick with 16-inch logs gives you one-third of a cord. So, you will need to purchase 3 ricks to get 1 cord
- 24-inch logs are the equivalent of half a cord. You will need to purchase 2 ricks to get 1 cord.
The bottom line is this. If your supplier sells wood by the rick, you need to ask how long they cut their logs. This will help you know exactly how much wood you are getting. It can be helpful when comparing different prices.
Rick of Wood FAQ
How much does a rick of wood weigh?
The weight of a rick of wood can vary between 496 and 2010 pounds (for dry wood). Why is there such a wide range? The weight depends on the type of wood, the moisture content, and the length of the logs.
Check out this handy chart that gives the weight for different species by the cord. It also tells you how much green and dry wood from various species weigh.
Look at the weights of different types of wood. A lighter wood such as Spruce weighs a lot less than White Oak. Look at the difference between green and dried wood. A cord of green Oak weighs 5573 pounds, but once it is dry, the weight drops to 4200 pounds.
Let us say we have a rick of seasoned Horsechesnut wood, and the logs are 12 inches long or a quarter of a cord. A cord of dried Horsechesnut weighs 1984 pounds. Divide that by 4, and your rick will weigh approximately 496 pounds.
Now let us look at a rick of dried White Oak with 24-inch logs or half a cord. A cord of dried White Oak weighs 4200 pounds. Divide that by 2, and your rick will weigh approximately 2100 pounds.
Of course, these weights are only approximate. In the end, it doesn’t matter as firewood is sold by volume, not weight. Still, these charts can be helpful if you are planning on hauling your own wood and want to know if your vehicle can handle the weight.
How much does a rick of wood cost?
It is difficult to pin this down. According to a sampling of prices across the US, a rick of firewood can cost between $150 and $250.
The cost of firewood varies according to the wood type, how dry it is and the prices in your area. There can be a few other costs involved if you are having your wood delivered. Ask about delivery and stacking fees, so you don’t get any surprises.
How many ricks do I need?
The amount of firewood you burn determines number of ricks you need. A single rick is seldom sufficient to heat an entire home, especially if it is your only source of heat. You might want to look at buying more.
If you just need enough for occasional use, a rick may be more than sufficient. It is probably better to have too much firewood than too little.
Is firewood is your primary source of heat? If yes, we recommend checking with other people in your area that heat the same way. They can probably give you a good idea of what you will need. Obviously, you will need to adapt the numbers depending on the size of the house and the type of wood burner. This video provides a simple formula you can use.
The formula needs a British Thermal Unit (BTU) measurement. You can look up the BTUs of various woods here.
How many wood logs are in a rick?
Generally speaking, a cord of wood holds approximately 600-700 pieces of split wood. This means a rick of firewood will have anywhere from 150- 350. The number of logs will vary. It depends on the type of wood and the diameter of the original tree. Also, the length of the wood in your rick.
I spent a great deal of time looking for the answer to this question and could not find any consistency. So, I went to some forums to see if anyone had answered this question. The general consensus from those that counted their wood was that they got 600-700 pieces of split wood per cord.
Obviously, logs split into smaller pieces will fit more pieces per cord than larger ones. Also a tightly piled rick will probably have more than a looser pile.
Suppliers sell firewood by volume rather than by the number of pieces. If it is important to you, you can ask your supplier as they probably have a rough idea. Alternatively, you count them, but that is a pretty tedious task!
Will a rick fit in a pickup?
This really depends on the size of the pickup. You can download a handy guide from the US Forest Service that provides estimates of how much firewood you can carry in different-sized trucks. Always check the owner’s manual to see how much weight your vehicle can carry.
Conclusion
You have learned the difference between a rick of wood and a cord. Now that you understand this, you can buy firewood with confidence! When it comes to a rick of wood, the most important thing is to know the length of the logs. Then you can calculate how much wood you are getting with your purchase. It takes all the guesswork out of buying the wood, so you can stockpile enough for your needs. We hope you found this article helpful. Please consider sharing it with others. Thank you.