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Board Feet Formula:
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The board feet calculation is a standard measurement used in the lumber industry to quantify the volume of lumber. One board foot represents a piece of wood that is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick.
The calculator uses the board feet formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula converts square footage to board feet by accounting for the thickness of the lumber. Since one board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12×12×1), we divide the thickness by 12 to get the proper conversion factor.
Details: Accurate board feet calculation is essential for lumber pricing, inventory management, project planning, and ensuring you purchase the correct amount of lumber for construction or woodworking projects.
Tips: Enter the square footage of your lumber and the thickness in inches. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will automatically compute the board feet measurement.
Q1: What exactly is a board foot?
A: A board foot is a unit of measurement for lumber equal to 144 cubic inches, typically representing a piece 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick.
Q2: Why divide thickness by 12 in the formula?
A: Since board feet are based on inches of thickness, dividing by 12 converts the thickness measurement to feet to maintain consistent units throughout the calculation.
Q3: How accurate is this calculation for irregular shapes?
A: This calculation works best for rectangular lumber pieces. For irregular shapes, you may need to calculate the equivalent square footage first.
Q4: Can this calculator be used for metric measurements?
A: This calculator uses imperial units (feet and inches). For metric measurements, you would need to convert to cubic meters or use a different calculation method.
Q5: Is board feet the same as linear feet?
A: No, board feet measures volume while linear feet measures length. Board feet accounts for width and thickness, while linear feet only considers length.