How Much Firewood Fits in a Pickup Truck?
The U.S. Forest Service says an average half-ton pickup with a full-size bed carries about half a cord of dry firewood, and a short bed a little less. A full cord in a standard pickup is not realistic, partly because of weight.
Bed volume and loads per cord
Level-full volumes from the Alaska Division of Forestry (wheel wells deducted):
| Truck | Cubic feet | Loads per cord |
|---|---|---|
| Full-size, 8 ft box | 68.5 | 1.9 |
| Full-size, short box | 48.5 | 2.6 |
| Full-size, 6.5 ft stepside | 38.5 | 3.3 |
| Small pickup, 8 ft box | 42.5 | 3.0 |
| Small pickup, 6 ft box | 30.5 | 4.2 |
Do the math for your bed
Cords = length × width × height (feet) ÷ 128. Piling above the rails makes the load hard to measure, so fill to the rails.
Weight matters
A dry cord weighs roughly 2,700 to 4,300 lb depending on species, and one source puts a full cord near 2.5 tons. A forum veteran notes a half-ton truck runs out of weight capacity before bed space with freshly cut wood. Check your payload rating.
FAQ
How many truckloads are in a cord?
Roughly 2 to 4, depending on bed size (table above).
Can a pickup carry a full cord?
Not safely in a standard bed; it is too heavy and hard to secure.
How do I measure a truck bed load?
Multiply length, width and level-full height in feet, then divide by 128.