Board Foot Formula:
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A board foot is a unit of measurement for the volume of lumber in the United States and Canada. It represents a one-foot length of a board one foot wide and one inch thick. Board foot calculations are essential in the lumber industry for pricing and inventory purposes.
The calculator uses the standard board foot formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula converts all dimensions to a common unit (inches) and divides by 12 to get the volume in board feet, which accounts for the standard 1" thickness component.
Details: Accurate board foot calculations are crucial for lumber pricing, project planning, and material estimation in woodworking and construction projects.
Tips: Enter length in feet, width and thickness in inches. All values must be positive numbers. For multiple pieces, multiply the result by the quantity.
Q1: Why is thickness measured in inches but length in feet?
A: This is the industry standard convention that simplifies calculations for typical lumber dimensions.
Q2: How do I calculate board feet for multiple pieces?
A: Calculate board feet for one piece and multiply by the total number of identical pieces.
Q3: What's the difference between board feet and linear feet?
A: Linear feet only measures length, while board feet measures volume (length × width × thickness).
Q4: How accurate should my measurements be?
A: For most applications, measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch is sufficient, but precision work may require more exact measurements.
Q5: Does this work for metric measurements?
A: No, this calculator uses imperial units. For metric, you would calculate cubic meters or liters instead.