Lumber Calculator
When planning any project with woods, knowing how much lumber you need is essential. While constructing a house, a patio, or even a small cupboard, the right calculation doesn’t just save your time and effort but also brings out the best result. Here comes the Lumbar calculator, a device that allows you to accurately determine the amount of wood required based on the dimensions of your project.
How Does the Lumber Calculator Work?
To use a Lumber Calculator effectively, you’ll need the following information:
- Length of the lumber pieces (in feet or meters)
- Width of the lumber (in inches or centimetres)
- The thickness of the lumber (in inches or centimetres)
- Quantity of pieces required
The formula for calculating the total volume of lumber is:
Total Volume (cubic feet) = (Length × Width × Thickness × Quantity)
Plugging in the numbers:
Total Volume=12ft×0.3333ft×0.125ft×6
Breaking it down step-by-step:
1. Calculate Width and Thickness:
0.3333ft×0.125ft=0.04166sq ft
2. Multiply by Length:
12ft×0.04166sq ft=0.49992cubic feet
3. Multiply by Quantity:
0.49992cubic feet×6=2.99952cubic feet
Real-Life Examples
Let’s look at a few real-life scenarios to see how a Lumber Calculator can be utilised:
- Building a Deck:
- Length: 10 feet
- Width: 6 inches (0.5 feet)
- Thickness: 1 inch (0.0833 feet)
- Quantity: 15 pieces
Calculation:
Total Volume=10ft×0.5ft×0.0833ft×15=6.25cubic feet
In this case, you would need 6.25 cubic feet of lumber to build your deck.
2. Constructing a Bookshelf:
- Length: 5 feet
- Width: 1 foot
- Thickness: 2 inches (0.1667 feet)
- Quantity: 4 shelves
Calculation:
Total Volume=5ft×1ft×0.1667ft×4=3.33cubic feet
For the bookshelf, you would need 3.33 cubic feet of lumber for the shelves.
3. Framing a Wall:
- Length: 8 feet
- Width: 4 inches (0.3333 feet)
- Thickness: 2 inches (0.1667 feet)
- Quantity: 10 studs
Calculation:
Total Volume=8ft×0.3333ft×0.1667ft×10=4.44cubic feet
For framing the wall, you would require approximately 4.44 cubic feet of lumber. Hope this help.
FAQs about Lumber Calculator
Multiply the cost per board foot by the total board feet (length x width x thickness ÷ 12) to estimate the total price.
Lumber is typically measured in board feet, which is a volume unit representing a 1-inch thick board that’s 12 inches wide and 12 inches long.
