Authoritative Data Source & Methodology
Primary reference: National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). Rules for the Measurement & Inspection of Hardwood Lumber, latest ed.; definition of the board foot and trade practices. NHLA.
Supplemental reference: USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Wood Handbook—Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-190 (2010/2018). Forest Products Laboratory.
Tutti i calcoli si basano rigorosamente sulle formule e sui dati forniti da questa fonte.
The Formula Explained
Board feet
\[ \text{BF}=\frac{T_{\text{in}} \times W_{\text{in}} \times L_{\text{ft}}}{12} \]
Equivalently, volume in cubic feet is \( \text{CF} = \dfrac{T_{\text{in}} \times W_{\text{in}} \times L_{\text{in}}}{1728} \), and \( 1 \ \text{CF} = 12 \ \text{BF} \). Cubic meters: \( \text{m}^3=\text{CF}\times 0.0283168466 \).
Kerf-aware stock length
\[ L_{\text{req}}=\sum_i n_i\,\ell_i + (N_{\text{cuts}}\times k) + (2\,N_{\text{boards}}\times t) \]
where \(k\) is kerf, \(t\) end-trim per board, and \(N_{\text{cuts}}\) equals the total number of separating cuts.
Glossary of Variables
- T: thickness (inches or millimeters)
- W: width (inches or millimeters)
- L: length (feet or meters)
- BF: board feet (1 BF = 1″ × 12″ × 12″)
- Kerf (k): material lost to blade thickness (in/mm)
- End trim (t): extra allowance to square board ends (in/mm)
- Yield: used length / available stock length
How It Works: A Step-by-Step Example
Suppose you need eight parts at 24″ and four parts at 18″, using 8′ stock, 1/8″ kerf, and 1/4″ trim per board end. The cut list converts all values to a single unit system, packs parts using a First-Fit Decreasing heuristic, adds kerf per separating cut and end trims, and reports the number of boards, the packing plan, total waste and yield. For volume/cost, the board-foot formula computes BF and multiplies by your quoted price per BF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the packing algorithm exact?
It’s a near-optimal heuristic (First-Fit Decreasing). For most shop lists it matches optimal or gets very close, in milliseconds.
Should I add safety margin?
Yes—account for defects, grain matching and tear-out. A 10–20% margin is common for complex builds.
How do I handle rough vs. S4S sizes?
Enter net finished sizes; add trimming/planing waste via kerf/trim or by increasing part lengths slightly.
Can I export the plan?
Use the Print button for a clean print/PDF summary that includes the packing plan and totals.
Does species affect board feet?
No. Board feet is pure volume. Species impacts price, movement, weight and availability—not volume math.
Tool developed by Ugo Candido. Content verified by the CalcDomain Editorial Board.
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