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Board Feet Formula:
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A board foot is a unit of measurement for lumber volume. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches, typically represented as a piece of wood 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.
The calculator uses the board foot formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula converts square footage to board feet by accounting for the thickness dimension of the lumber.
Details: Accurate board foot calculation is essential for lumber pricing, project planning, material estimation, and cost control in woodworking and construction projects.
Tips: Enter the square footage of your lumber and its thickness in inches. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will automatically compute the board footage.
Q1: Why divide thickness by 12 in the formula?
A: Since there are 12 inches in a foot, dividing thickness by 12 converts the measurement from inches to feet to maintain consistent units throughout the calculation.
Q2: How does board foot differ from square foot?
A: Square foot measures area (length × width), while board foot measures volume (length × width × thickness), specifically for lumber.
Q3: Can I use this calculator for any wood type?
A: Yes, the calculation works for all wood types as it's based on dimensional measurement rather than wood density or species.
Q4: How accurate is this calculation for irregular shapes?
A: This calculation assumes rectangular shapes. For irregular shapes, you may need to calculate the square footage differently before using this formula.
Q5: Is board foot the standard measurement for lumber?
A: Yes, board foot is the standard unit for measuring lumber volume in North America, particularly for hardwoods and thicker dimensional lumber.