Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Timber Engineering board feet

Can I ask please-is a "board foot" the same as a "cubic foot". Would that be a piece of timber (for example) 12"x1"x12 foot long?
Sorry to ask such a basic question but I do not know.

Many thanks, hayton

Greetings...

A board foot is not equal to a cubic foot.

A board foot is usually thought of in terms of a 1" thick board measuring 1 foot by 1 foot.

The example you gave would be 12 board feet.

Joel

Thanks for your kind reply Joel.
I'm right then in thinking then- one cubic foot of timber is equal to 12 board feet?

Would (for example) an 8"x8"x10 foot beam be containing 53.4 board feet/4.5 cu ft?
Would an 14"x7"x20 foot beam contain 164 board feet/13.7 cu ft?
Sorry to pester you, I just want to get it clear in my mind!
Thanks, Hayton

hayton...

You are correct that 1 cubic foot is eaqual to 12 board feet.

I always think of it as a "board" (1" thick) one foot in length and width. A "board" foot. Stack 12 of them and you have a cube 1 foot on each side...aka a cubic foot.

Joel

to determine board feet, use
feet X feet X inches
generally speaking, however, timbers are inches X inches X feet
so, after you multiply your 8x8x10, divide by 12 and you will have it. Both your examples are correct.

Many thanks Joel & Mark, your response is apreciated

Hayton1960,
Email me or contact me by private message and I'll send you a worksheet which calculates the FootBoard Measure for Lumber.
Or anyone else for that matter. My email address is jim.haslip@gmail.com

If you have a good framing square you will find a board foot scale on it as well.