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Though "board foot" sounds a measurement of area it is actually a measurement of volume. 1 board foot equals 144 cubic inches of wood.

Length x Width x Thickness = Board Feet

Therefore a board that is 12 inches x 12 inches x 1 inch is 1 board foot.

But so is a board that is 12 x 6 x 2

However, you must take into account the fact that all lumber is actually a different size than it says it is. A 2 x 12 is actually 1-1/2 by 11-1/2. So instead of a board foot of 1 x 12 being 12 inches long, it would be:

144 / (3/4 x 11-1/2) or 13.22 inches long.

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Q: Lumber - How do you calculate board feet?
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How to Calculate Board Feet In Lumber?

Most do-it-yourselfers at some point in time have to figure out how much board feet of lumber they will need for a given project. Figuring out board feet of lumber can be confusing for someone who has never had to do it before, or at least not very often. Here is an explanation on how to calculate how many board feet of lumber in a few short steps. Step 1: Gather together a calculator, a pen and some paper. You will need these for the math. Step 2: You will need to know that a board foot is a piece of wood one inch thick, one foot long and one foot wide, and that lumber is calculated by its rough size. This means a 2 x 4 is actually 1 ½ inches thick. Step 3: Learn the formula (Thickness x Width x Length) / 144, so you can calculate your board feet. Any lumber can be calculated by using this simple formula. Step 4: Remember to allow for waste when calculating how many board feet you will need. The higher the grade of lumber you buy, the less waste you will have. With the high grade lumber, a rough estimate of waste should be around 15% while the lower grade estimate about 30% waste. If you are able to calculate board feet, it will help you when ordering or buying wood for any do-it-yourself project and for checking on contractors estimated amounts. You should always be able to know what you are paying for any amount of building material. This simple formula will be able to help you.


How many board feet of lumber in a 40 x 48 pallet?

To calculate the board feet of lumber in a pallet, you first need to determine the thickness of the boards used. Assuming standard 1-inch thick boards, a 40 x 48 pallet would contain 160 board feet of lumber (40 ft x 48 ft = 1920 sq ft, divided by 12 to convert to board feet). If the boards are thicker or thinner, you would adjust the calculation accordingly based on the actual thickness of the lumber used.


How much lumber do you need to build a 16 x16 x8 room with a center of 16?

To build a 16 x 16 x 8 room, you need to calculate the lumber for the walls and the ceiling. The walls consist of four sides, each 16 feet long and 8 feet high, totaling 512 square feet of wall area. For the ceiling, you need an additional 256 square feet of lumber. Depending on the framing style and the number of windows and doors, you may require additional lumber for studs, plates, and other structural elements.


How do I find the board feet in at 40x48 pallet?

There is insufficient information in the question to properly answer it. You need to specify size, including thickness, of the lumber and the height of the stack. Please restate the question.


How much lumber will you need to build a 12x20 shed with 8ft walls and 12ft center ceilings?

To calculate the amount of lumber needed for the shed, you first need to determine the perimeter of the shed, which is 2(12+20) = 64 feet. Next, calculate the total wall area by multiplying the perimeter by the wall height: 64ft * 8ft = 512 square feet. To find the amount of lumber needed, divide the total wall area by the area covered by each piece of lumber. If you are using standard 8ft long 2x4 lumber, each piece covers 8sq.ft. Therefore, you will need 512sq.ft / 8sq.ft = 64 pieces of lumber for the walls.