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Board Foot Formula:
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Board foot is a specialized unit of measure for lumber in North America. It represents the volume of a one-foot length of a board one foot wide and one inch thick. This measurement is essential in the lumber industry for pricing and inventory management.
The calculator uses the board foot formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the volume of lumber in board feet by multiplying the three dimensions and dividing by 12 to convert to the standard board foot measurement.
Details: Accurate board foot calculation is crucial for lumber pricing, project estimation, material ordering, and inventory management in woodworking and construction industries.
Tips: Enter thickness and width in inches, length in feet. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the board footage of your lumber.
Q1: Why divide by 12 in the formula?
A: We divide by 12 because one board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12" × 12" × 1"), and the formula T×W×L gives us cubic inches which we then convert to board feet.
Q2: How is board foot different from square foot?
A: Board foot measures volume (cubic measurement), while square foot measures area. Board foot accounts for thickness, while square foot does not.
Q3: Do I need to account for wood species?
A: The board foot calculation is the same for all wood species, though different species have different values per board foot based on quality, rarity, and market demand.
Q4: How accurate should my measurements be?
A: For commercial transactions, measure to the nearest 1/4 inch for thickness and width, and to the nearest foot for length. For precise projects, more accurate measurements may be needed.
Q5: Does this work for rough or planed lumber?
A: Typically, lumber is measured in its rough state for board foot calculation. Planed lumber (S4S) has had material removed, so the actual dimensions are slightly smaller than nominal dimensions.