Convert Hogshead (hogshead) to Cord (cd) instantly.
About these units
Hogshead (hogshead)
A hogshead is a traditional barrel volume whose size varied by commodity, region, and era. In British and colonial American contexts, a hogshead for beer or ale was commonly 54 imperial gallons, while for wine it was 63 gallons. Hogsheads were central to colonial commerce, especially in the tobacco trade, where standardized hogsheads—large wooden barrels—became essential for shipping cured leaves across the Atlantic. These giant casks often doubled as storage containers, shipping crates, and even temporary furniture. While the hogshead is not used in modern measurement, it occupies a prominent place in historical literature, trade records, and maritime archaeology. Its enduring cultural footprint reflects the importance of cooperage (barrel-making) in pre-industrial economies.
Cord (cd)
The cord is a large unit used in North America to measure firewood, defined as a neatly stacked pile measuring 128 cubic feet (usually arranged as 4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft). Its strict definition helps prevent fraud in firewood sales and ensures fairness in trade. The cord accounts for both wood and air space, though the amount of actual wood can vary depending on how tightly it is stacked. Despite the prevalence of metric units worldwide, the cord remains a robust standard in forestry, firewood commerce, and rural heating practices across the US and Canada.