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Board Feet Formula:
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Board feet is a measurement of lumber volume. One board foot equals 1 foot long × 1 foot wide × 1 inch thick, or its equivalent. It's the standard unit for measuring lumber in North America.
The calculator uses the board feet formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how many board feet are in a piece of lumber based on its dimensions. The division by 12 converts the measurement to board feet.
Details: Accurate board feet calculation is essential for lumber pricing, inventory management, project planning, and ensuring you purchase the correct amount of wood for construction or woodworking projects.
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 is board foot measurement used instead of other units?
A: Board foot is the industry standard for lumber measurement as it accounts for all three dimensions (thickness, width, length) in a single volume measurement.
Q2: How do I measure lumber for board feet calculation?
A: Measure thickness and width in inches (at their nominal dimensions), and length in feet. For rough lumber, use actual dimensions.
Q3: Does the formula work for all wood types?
A: Yes, the board foot formula works for all wood species. However, different woods have different values per board foot based on quality and market demand.
Q4: How accurate is board foot calculation for pricing?
A: Very accurate when using correct measurements. Lumber is typically priced per board foot, making this calculation essential for cost estimation.
Q5: Can I calculate board feet for multiple pieces?
A: Yes, simply calculate the board feet for one piece and multiply by the number of identical pieces to get the total board footage.