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Log Board Foot Calculator: Accurately Calculate Timber Volume & Lumber Yield

Use our free Log Board Foot Calculator to estimate timber volume, board feet, and lumber yield using Doyle, Scribner, or International log scales. Fast and accurate results.

Reduce waste by 22%

10x faster estimates

PDF reports included

Calculate Log Volume, Timber Yield & Board Feet Instantly

Our Log Board Foot Calculator helps foresters, sawmill operators, timber buyers, loggers, landowners, and woodworkers accurately estimate the board feet contained within a log.

Whether you’re selling standing timber, purchasing logs, estimating lumber yield, or planning sawmill production, this calculator provides fast and reliable board foot estimates based on log diameter and length.

Calculate timber volume instantly and make more informed forestry and lumber decisions.

What Is a Log Board Foot?

A log board foot is a unit used to estimate the amount of usable lumber that can be produced from a log.

Unlike dimensional lumber measurements, log board feet estimate potential lumber yield before the log is sawn into boards.

The calculation considers:

Log diameter
Log length
Sawing waste
Kerf loss
Log taper
Lumber recovery rates

Log board foot estimates are widely used throughout the forestry and timber industries.

Why Use a Log Board Foot Calculator?

Determining lumber yield manually can be complex and time-consuming.

A log board foot calculator helps you:

Estimate lumber production
Calculate timber value
Compare log quality
Plan sawmill operations
Assess timber inventory
Improve purchasing decisions

Accurate estimates help buyers and sellers negotiate fair timber prices.

How to Use the Log Board Foot Calculator

Step 1: Enter Log Diameter

Input the small-end diameter of the log in inches.

Step 2: Enter Log Length

Enter the total log length in feet.

Step 3: Select Log Scale

Choose the preferred scaling method:

Doyle Scale
Scribner Scale
International 1/4-Inch Rule

Step 4: Calculate

The calculator instantly estimates:

Board feet
Lumber yield
Timber volume
Log value estimates

What Is Log Scaling?

Log scaling is the process of estimating the amount of lumber that can be recovered from a log before milling.

Professional scalers use established log rules to estimate:

Recoverable board feet
Timber value
Sawmill output
Inventory volume

These estimates form the basis for timber transactions and production planning.

Common Log Scaling Methods

Different regions and industries use different log rules.

Doyle Log Scale

The Doyle Rule is one of the oldest and most widely used log scaling methods in North America.

Characteristics:

Common in the eastern United States
Underestimates smaller logs
Easy to calculate
Popular for timber sales

The Doyle Scale often produces lower board foot estimates than other methods.

Scribner Log Scale

The Scribner Rule estimates lumber yield based on diagrams of boards that can be cut from a log.

Benefits include:

More accurate for medium-sized logs
Widely accepted by sawmills
Frequently used in commercial forestry operations

Many timber buyers use Scribner calculations for pricing and inventory management.

International 1/4-Inch Rule

The International Rule is generally considered the most accurate of the three major log scales.

Advantages:

Accounts for saw kerf
Considers taper and waste
Produces realistic lumber recovery estimates
Common in professional forestry management

Many foresters prefer the International Rule for inventory assessments.

Log Diameter and Lumber Yield

Log diameter significantly affects the amount of recoverable lumber.

As diameter increases:

Board foot volume increases
Lumber recovery improves
Timber value generally rises

For example:

Small-End Diameter	Potential Lumber Yield
10 inches	Lower Yield
16 inches	Moderate Yield
24 inches	High Yield
30 inches	Very High Yield

Larger logs typically produce more efficient lumber recovery rates.

Log Length and Board Feet

Longer logs generally contain more board feet.

Common log lengths include:

8 feet
10 feet
12 feet
14 feet
16 feet
20 feet

The combination of diameter and length determines total timber volume.

Timber Value Calculator

Board foot estimates are often used to determine log value.

Factors affecting timber pricing include:

Species

Examples:

Oak
Walnut
Maple
Cherry
Pine
Cedar

Log Quality

Higher-grade logs produce more valuable lumber.

Diameter

Larger logs generally command higher prices.

Market Demand

Regional lumber demand influences timber values.

Recovery Rate

Better lumber recovery increases overall profitability.

Log Board Foot Calculator for Sawmills

Sawmill operators use log board foot calculations to:

Forecast lumber production
Estimate inventory
Plan milling schedules
Evaluate log purchases
Improve operational efficiency

Accurate volume estimates help maximize lumber recovery and profitability.

Log Board Foot Calculator for Landowners

Private landowners often use log scaling to:

Assess timber inventory
Estimate timber sale revenue
Manage forest resources
Plan harvesting operations
Work with forestry consultants

Knowing timber volume helps support better forest management decisions.

Benefits of Using a Log Board Foot Calculator

Improve Timber Valuation

Estimate fair market value before buying or selling logs.

Increase Planning Accuracy

Forecast lumber production and inventory requirements.

Save Time

Avoid manual calculations and reference tables.

Better Sawmill Management

Improve production planning and purchasing decisions.

Support Forestry Operations

Accurately measure standing timber and harvested logs.

Log Board Feet vs Lumber Board Feet

Many users confuse these measurements.

Measurement	Purpose
Log Board Feet	Estimated lumber yield from a log
Lumber Board Feet	Actual lumber volume after milling

Log calculations estimate future production, while lumber board feet measure finished products.

Frequently Asked Questions