Volume - Lumber Converter

Convert between various lumber volume units (e.g., m³, ft³, board feet, cord).

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Common Conversions

About Lumber Volume Units

Various units are used to measure the volume of lumber, reflecting different applications and historical practices.

  • Cubic Meter (m³): The SI unit of volume.
  • Cubic Foot (ft³): An imperial/US customary unit of volume. $1 \text{ ft}^3 \approx 0.0283168 \text{ m}^3$.
  • Cubic Inch (in³): $1 \text{ ft}^3 = 1728 \text{ in}^3$.
  • Board Foot (FBM): A unit of volume for lumber, representing a piece of lumber 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick. $1 \text{ FBM} = 1/12 \text{ ft}^3 \approx 0.00236 \text{ m}^3$.
  • Thousand Board Feet (MBF or MFBM): $1000 \text{ FBM}$.
  • Cord (firewood): Typically refers to a stacked pile of wood $4 \text{ ft} \times 4 \text{ ft} \times 8 \text{ ft} = 128 \text{ ft}^3$ of total space. The solid wood content can vary, but a common estimate for solid wood in a cord of firewood is around $80 \text{ ft}^3$ to $90 \text{ ft}^3$. This converter uses $80 \text{ ft}^3$ for "Cord (firewood, 80ft³ solid)".
  • Cord (stacked, 128ft³): Represents the total space occupied by a standard cord, $128 \text{ ft}^3$.
  • Thousand Square Feet (MSF) of Panels: Volume depends on panel thickness.
    • MSF (1/8" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (1/8 \text{ in}) = 10.4167 \text{ ft}^3$
    • MSF (1/4" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (1/4 \text{ in}) = 20.8333 \text{ ft}^3$
    • MSF (3/8" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (3/8 \text{ in}) = 31.25 \text{ ft}^3$
    • MSF (1/2" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (1/2 \text{ in}) = 41.6667 \text{ ft}^3$
    • MSF (3/4" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (3/4 \text{ in}) = 62.5 \text{ ft}^3$
    • MSF (1" panels): $1000 \text{ ft}^2 \times (1 \text{ in}) = 83.3333 \text{ ft}^3$ (Equivalent to 1000 FBM)