BOARD FOOT

CALCULATION

DONNA BERRY, AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

&
JOE FULLERTON, MATHEMATICS
 PA MATH STANDARDS
2.2.11.A Develop and use computation concepts, operations and procedures
with real numbers in problem-solving situations

2.2.11.E Recognize that the degree of precision needed in calculating a

number depends on how the results will be used and the instruments
used to generate the measure

2.3.8.A Develop formulas and procedures for determining measurements

(e.g., area, volume, distance)

2.3.8.D Estimate, use and describe measures of distance, rate, perimeter,

area, volume, weight, mass and angles

2.3.8.E Describe how a change in linear dimension of an object affects its

perimeter, area and volume
 OBJECTIVE

Students will demonstrate a working knowledge

of calculating board feet (math concept) and its
application in Agricultural Technology:
Woodworking (technical field), while
recognizing it in other contexts.
 DEFINE TERMS
Board foot (BF) = one inch thick, one foot wide,
and one foot length
Thickness = measured in inches
Width = measured in inches
Length = measured in feet
Foot (ft) = 12 inches
” = Inch (ex. 6” = 6 inches)
’ = Foot (ex. 6’ = 6 feet)
Square foot (sq. ft.) = a square with 4 equal
sides, each side measuring 1 foot
 STEPS
„ To calculate board foot we think of the board as
1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long.
Since most commonly used boards are less
than 12 inches wide, the width is changed to
inches
„ Board foot is calculated as T” x W” x L’
divided by 12.

BF = T” x W” x L’
12
 CALCULATING
HOW MANY BOARD FEET ARE IN A 2 x 4 x 8?

SET UP THE PROBLEM 2 x 4 x 8 = BF

12

DO THE MULTIPLICATION 2 x 4 x 8 = 64

DIVIDE 64 = 5.3 BF
12
 COMPARE
WOODWORKING 2” x 4” x 8’ = BF
12

PSSA TEST 4x2x7=y

8
 WORD PROBLEM
FIND THE NUMBER OF BOARD FEET IN 200 PIECES
OF 2 x 6, EACH 8 FOOT LONG.

200 x 2 x 6 x 8 = BF
12

2 x 6 x 8 = 96

96 = 8 BF
12

8 x 200 = 1600 BF
 SOLVE FOR LENGTH
SUPPOSE YOU NEED TO ORDER THE LUMBER TO COVER A
DECK MEASURING 14 FEET BY 20 FEET WITH 1 x 8 BOARDS.
HOW MANY FEET OF 1 x 8 BOARDS WOULD YOU ORDER?

14 x 20 = 280 SQ FT

280 = 1 x 8 x L
12

280 x 12 = 8 x L

L = 280 x 12
8 L = 420 FT
 CALCULATING BOARD FEET
WORKSHEET

Board Size BF Board Size BF

1” x 4” x 6’ ____ 2” x 6” x 8’ ____
2” x 4” x 12’ ____ 2” x 6” x 6’ ____
1” x 10” x 8’ ____ 1” x 4” x 12’ ____
2” x 6” x 16’ ____ 1” x 14” x 10’ ____
4” x 4” x 8’ ____ 4” x 4” x 12’ ____
6” x 6” x 6’ ____ 6” x 6” x 16’ ____
 REFERENCES

Avery, Thomas Eugene & Burkhart, Harold E.

(1994). Forest Measurements. New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill, 66.

Webster, Alfred P. & Judy, Kathryn B (2002).

Mathematics for Carpentry and the
Construction Trades. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall, 207 – 211.