board foot Unit Converter

Definition of board foot unit

A board foot is a unit of volume used for measuring lumber. It equals the volume of a board measuring one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick, or 144 cubic inches.

History of board foot unit

The board foot developed in North American timber commerce as a way to price and trade irregularly sized lumber. Its dimensions reflect a one-foot square board, one inch thick, rather than a consistently shaped solid. Sawmills, timber merchants, and managers adopted the measure during the growth of the North American lumber industry in the nineteenth century. Although related volume measures existed elsewhere, the board foot became established in the United States and Canada. Today, it remains embedded in lumber grading, production records, and market quotations, despite use of metric measurements.

Applications of board foot unit

Board feet are used primarily in North America to quantify and sell sawn lumber, including boards, planks, and timbers. Buyers and sellers calculate board-foot volume to compare prices, estimate materials, and record sawmill output. For example, a board measuring 8 feet long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick contains 8 board feet. Foresters also use it to estimate timber.

Complete list of board foot unit conversion