KEVOS® MAKEOS · Materials
Lumber Board Feet and Volume
How many board feet and cubic metres are in this timber order, and what does it cost?
Board feet (feet board measure) and cubic volume of sawn timber from thickness, width, length and quantity, with cost from a price per board foot or per cubic metre, and weight from density.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | mm | Thickness (use nominal sizes if the price is on nominal measure). |
| Width | mm | Width. |
| Length | m | Length of each piece. |
| Number of pieces | Number of pieces. | |
| Price given | choice | Whether the price is per board foot or per cubic metre. |
| Price | $ | Unit price. |
| Timber density at its moisture content | kg/m³ | Density of the timber (from a wood density calculation). |
Method and formulas
- One board foot is 1 in. × 12 in. × 1 ft (144 in³ = 0.00235974 m³).
- Board feet = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12 × pieces.
- Cost = board feet × price, or cubic metres × price; weight = volume × density.
- Example: 10 pieces of 2 × 6 in. × 10 ft is 100 board feet.
Limitations
- Nominal and actual (dressed) sizes differ; use the basis your supplier prices on.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Order timber for crates, pallets, patterns or jigs
- Compare prices quoted per board foot and per cubic metre
- Estimate timber weight for shipping
Who it is for
- Buyers
- Packaging and crating supervisors
- Pattern makers
What you get
- Board feet
- Cubic metres
- Cost and weight
Interpreting the result
- Convert quotes to the same basis before comparing suppliers.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 3018–3019. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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