board foot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Commercial
Quick answer
What does “board foot” mean?
A unit of volume for lumber, equal to one square foot one inch thick (144 cubic inches).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of volume for lumber, equal to one square foot one inch thick (144 cubic inches).
Used in forestry, timber trade, and carpentry for measuring and pricing sawn wood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The unit is used in both regions, but the imperial system is more prevalent in the US timber industry. The UK often uses metric equivalents (cubic metres) in official contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with North American forestry and traditional carpentry.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the continued use of the imperial system in US construction.
Grammar
How to Use “board foot” in a Sentence
[Number] board foot/feet of [wood type]Priced at [amount] per board footThe [item] contains [number] board feet.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in invoicing and purchasing timber: 'The oak is priced at $8.50 per board foot.'
Academic
Found in forestry, wood technology, and industrial arts papers.
Everyday
Rare; used mainly by carpenters, DIY enthusiasts, or when buying hardwood.
Technical
Precise measurement for log scaling, lumber yield, and mill operations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “board foot”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “board foot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “board foot”
- Writing it as 'boardfoot' (should be two words).
- Confusing it with 'linear foot' (which measures length only).
- Assuming a board foot refers to a physically existing board of exact dimensions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A square foot measures area (length x width). A board foot measures volume (length x width x thickness in inches), specifically for a one-inch thickness.
For a board: (Thickness in inches) x (Width in inches) x (Length in feet) / 12. For example, a 2in x 6in x 10ft board is (2 x 6 x 10)/12 = 10 board feet.
It is understood in the international timber trade, but many countries (like the UK, Australia) primarily use metric units like cubic metres in official documentation.
It stands for 'Thousand Board Feet', a common wholesale unit for large quantities of lumber.
A unit of volume for lumber, equal to one square foot one inch thick (144 cubic inches).
Board foot is usually technical, commercial in register.
Board foot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɔːd fʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɔːrd fʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOARD that is one FOOT wide, one foot long, and one inch thick – that's the basic block of wood it measures.
Conceptual Metaphor
WOOD IS A QUANTIFIABLE COMMODITY (measured in standardised blocks).
Practice
Quiz
What does one board foot represent?