Board Feet Formula:
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Board feet is a measurement of lumber volume. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches, which is equivalent to a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long (or equivalent dimensions).
The calculator uses the board feet 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 feet calculation is crucial 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 the lumber piece.
Q1: Why divide by 12 in the formula?
A: Dividing by 12 converts the cubic inch measurement to board feet, since one board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12×12).
Q2: How do I calculate board feet for multiple pieces?
A: Calculate board feet for one piece, then multiply by the number of identical pieces.
Q3: Does the formula work for metric measurements?
A: No, this formula is specifically for imperial measurements. For metric, you would calculate cubic meters or other metric volume units.
Q4: How accurate should my measurements be?
A: For lumber pricing, measurements are typically rounded to the nearest 1/4 inch for thickness and width, and nearest foot for length.
Q5: Are there different board foot calculations for rough vs. planed lumber?
A: Typically, lumber is sold based on nominal dimensions (rough size) rather than actual dimensions after planing, unless otherwise specified.