Timber Volume & Measurement
Calculate cubic feet (CFT) and cubic metres (CBM) for logs, sawn timber, planks and pallet wood without any manual maths.
Work Out Timber Volume in Seconds
Add each board once, pick your units (mm, cm, inch, feet, metre) and see volume in CBM and CFT instantly. Then print it as a document with our company header, or send it to us for a quotation.
1 · Document details
2 · Customer details
3 · Components
Plywood is sold in flat sheets, so we work with area as well as volume.
Area of a sheet = Length x Width (shown in sq ft and sq m).
Volume of a sheet = Length x Width x Thickness. CBM = volume of a sheet x number of sheets. CFT = CBM x 35.3147.
Sheets per CBM = 1 / volume of one sheet (useful for truck and container loading).
Sheets needed to cover an area = area to cover / area of one sheet, plus wastage for cutting loss, rounded up.
How many sheets do I need?
Document preview (this is what prints)
Results are a convenient estimate based on the sizes you enter. Final quantity, grade, availability and price are confirmed in our written quotation.
What is "with tolerance"?
Sawn timber is sold on its ordered (invoicing) size, but the piece you receive is a little smaller because of the sawing tolerance, which differs from wood to wood. Choose With wood tolerance and the report shows both sizes and both volumes. Choose Exact size if the sizes you enter are the sizes you need delivered.
| Thickness | Width | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordered (invoicing) | 2" | 3" | 8 ft |
| Tolerance | 1/4" (6 mm) | 1/8" (3 mm) | - |
| Actual supplied | 1.75" | 2.88" | 8 ft |
Measure Right, Order Right
A few quick reminders before you enter your sizes. You can edit these cards in the admin.
Unit conversions
1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 foot = 304.8 mm = 0.3048 m
1 CBM (m3) = 35.3147 CFT
1 CFT = 0.0283168 m3
1 sq m = 10.7639 sq ft
Measuring sawn timber
Measure the thickness and width of the piece and its length from end to end. Enter them as the ordered (invoicing) sizes, and choose 'With wood tolerance' if the delivered size will be slightly smaller. Choose 'Exact size' if the sizes you enter are final.
Measuring a round log
Measure the length, then the girth (the distance around the log) or the diameter. Enter whichever you have and choose 'Round log - girth' or 'Round log - diameter'. Girth is taken at a fixed point on the log by trade practice - if you are unsure, ask our team.
Ordering plywood
Plywood is ordered by sheet size, thickness and number of sheets. Pick a common sheet size or enter your own, choose the thickness in mm and the number of sheets. The calculator shows area, volume and sheets per CBM, and can work out how many sheets cover a given area.
Not sure? Ask us
Send your list to our team and we will check the sizes, suggest a suitable wood or board and reply with a quotation.
Ready for a quotation?
Fill in your details above and press Send to Sri Ram Group. Our team receives your sizes and volumes and confirms species, grade, availability and price.