How is lumber measured and sold?
In North America hardwood sells by the board foot; softwood often by the piece or linear foot; Europe uses cubic metres. The calculators convert both ways and show an equivalent price to compare quotes.
Check whether you're paying on rough (nominal) or surfaced (actual) size — the volume difference matters.
How much lumber does a log yield?
Sawmill recovery depends on diameter, taper, defects and cutting pattern — usually 45–60%. Log rules like Doyle are used to buy logs in the US but under-scale small logs.
After sawing, drying shrinks volume another 5–10%.
Why does timber weight matter?
For hauling, lifting and floor loads. Weight depends on species and especially moisture: green lumber can weigh over half as much again as air-dried.
Use the weight calculator before planning a crane or loading a truck.