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Board Feet Calculator

Board Feet Formula:

\[ \text{Board Feet} = \frac{\text{Length (feet)} \times \text{Width (inches)} \times \text{Thickness (inches)}}{12} \]

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1. What is Board Feet?

Board feet is a unit of measurement for the volume of lumber. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12" × 12" × 1") and is used to quantify how much wood is in a given piece of lumber.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the board feet formula:

\[ \text{Board Feet} = \frac{\text{Length (feet)} \times \text{Width (inches)} \times \text{Thickness (inches)}}{12} \]

Where:

Explanation: The formula converts all dimensions to a common unit (inches) and divides by 144 cubic inches (12 × 12) to get board feet.

3. Importance of Board Feet Calculation

Details: Board feet calculation is essential for lumber pricing, inventory management, and project planning in woodworking and construction.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter length in feet, width and thickness in inches. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the total board feet.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are width and thickness in inches while length is in feet?
A: This is the industry standard for measuring lumber in North America, where board feet is commonly used.

Q2: How do I calculate board feet for multiple pieces?
A: Calculate board feet for one piece and multiply by the number of identical pieces.

Q3: What's the difference between board feet and linear feet?
A: Linear feet only measures length, while board feet accounts for volume (length × width × thickness).

Q4: How accurate should my measurements be?
A: For most purposes, measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch is sufficient, though precision work may require more accuracy.

Q5: Does this work for metric measurements?
A: No, this calculator uses imperial units. For metric, you would calculate cubic meters or other metric volume units.

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