Timber/Lumber Volume Units

The units that are(were) used for the timber/lumber products volume conversions.

Throughout Europe lumber cargoes where typically measured in standards (standard hundred). These standards differed by location but in general they consisted of 120 pieces adding up to a certain amount in board feet and cubic feet. They were used for shipping, buying and selling of lumber products.

In addition to these there are terms used to measure fuel wood, wood chips and pulp.

Note:

The abbreviations used with the units are abbreviations we use on this Web site. For instance, the Petrograd Standard, in some of the publications is this term is abbreviated as P.S.H = Petrograd Standard Hundred.
The board foot (American) and superficial foot (English) both the same in size.

Unit Name	Conversion type	System type/ used in	Note	Imperial	Metric
American standard (Am.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces - 2" x 12" x 12' = 1237½ bf	1 American standard = 240 cubic feet (ft³)	1 American standard = 6.796 cubic metres (m³)
Blodgett foot (Bl ft)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	log rule that was used in the Northeastern United States	1 Blodgett foot (Bl ft) = 1.396 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Blodgett foot (Bl ft) = 0.0396 cubic metres (m³)
board foot (bf)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	1 bf = 12" x 12" x 1" = 144 cubic inches	1 board foot (bf) = 0.0833 cubic feet (ft³)	1 board foot (bf) = 0.0024 cubic metres (m³)
carload (C/L)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	15000 superficial feet B.M.of 1 inch . American hardwood lumber contract definition. carload (C/L) = rail car	1 carload = 1250 cubic feet (ft³)	1 carload = 35.394 cubic metres (m³)
centistere (cst)	Volume	metric unit (old)	100 cst = one stere	1 centistere (cst) = 0.353 cubic feet (ft³)	1 centistere (cst) = 0.01 cubic metres (m³)
Christiana standard (Cri.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces - 1¼" x 9" x 11' = 1237½ bf	1 Christiana standard (Cri.std) = 103.125 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Christiana standard (Cri.std) = 2.92 cubic metres (m³)
cord (cd)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	stack of firewood 4 ft wide, 8 ft long, and 4 ft high	1 cord (cd) = 128 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cord (cd) = 3.625 cubic metres (m³)
cord foot	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	stack of firewood 4 ft wide x 1 ft long, 4 ft high = 1/8 of a cord	1 cord foot (cd ft) = 16 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cord foot (cd ft) = 0.453 cubic metres (m³)
cubic foot (ft³)	Volume	Imperial unit	Basic Imperial volume unit used for timber volume	1 cubic foot (ft³) = 1 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cubic foot (ft³) = 0.0283 cubic metres (m³)
cubic metre (m³)	Volume	Metric unit	cubic metre is a SI base unit	1 cubic metre (m³) = 35.315 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cubic metre (m³) = 1 cubic metres (m³)
cubic shaku (shaku³)	Volume	Japan	1 cubic shaku = 12 boardfeet Brereton log scale	1 cubic shaku (shaku³) = 0.9826 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cubic shaku (shaku³) = 0.0278 cubic metres (m³)
cubic ton (t³)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	Also known as timber ton or measurement ton	1 cubic ton (t³) = 40 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cubic ton (t³) = 1.132 cubic metres (m³)
cunit (cunit)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Canadian	Used for wood intended as pulpwood or firewood. 100 ft³ solid wood, and also used for 100 ft³ of sawdust or 100 ft³ pulp chips	1 cunit (cunit) = 100 cubic feet (ft³)	1 cunit (cunit) = 2.83 cubic metres (m³)
Dantzig standards	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces, 1½" x 12" x 12'	1 Dantzig standard (Dan.std) = 180 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Dantzig standard (Dan.std) = 5.097 cubic metres (m³)
decastere (dast)	Volume	metric unit (old)	1 dast = 10 st	1 decastere (dast) = 353.147 cubic feet (ft³)	1 decastere (dast) = 10 cubic metres (m³)
decistere (dst)	Volume	metric unit (old)	10 dst = 1 stere	1 decistere (dst) = 3.53 cubic feet (ft³)	1 decistere (dst) = 0.1 cubic metres (m³)
Drammen standard (Drm.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces - 2½" x 6½" x 12' = 1462½ bf	1 Drammen standard (Drm.std) = 121.875 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Drammen standard (Drm.std) = 3.45 cubic metres (m³)
Drontheim standard (round timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	1728 board feet (bf)	1 Drontheim standard (round timber) = 144 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Drontheim standard (round timber) = 4.078 cubic metres (m³)
Drontheim standard (sawn deals)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	2376 board feet (bf)	1 Drontheim standard (sawn deals) = 198 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Drontheim standard (sawn deals) = 5.6 cubic metres (m³)
Drontheim standard (square timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	2160 board feet (bf)	1 Drontheim standard (square timber) = 180 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Drontheim standard (square timber) = 5.097 cubic metres (m³)
face cord (f.cd)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	stack of firewood 16 in wide, 8 ft long, and 4 ft high. We use a value of 16 inches for the width, but the width can be anything from 12" to 36"	1 face cord (f cd) = 42.667 cubic feet (ft³)	1 face cord (f cd) = 1.208 cubic metres (m³)
fathom (pftm)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	1 fathom = 6 feet. A piled fathom = 6' x 6' x 6'	1 fathom (pftm) = 216 cubic feet (ft³)	1 fathom (pftm) = 6.116 cubic metres (m³)
fathom (pftm) Russian	Timber/Lumber Volume	Russian unit	1 Russian fathom = 7 feet. A piled Russian fathom = 7' x 7' x7'	1 Russian fathom (Rus.pftm) = 343 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Russian fathom (Rus.pftm) = 9.71cubic metres (m³)
Francon cubic metre (fr.m³)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	Hoppus using metric units	1 Francon cubic metre (fr.m³) = 44.964 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Francon cubic metre (fr.m³) = 1.273 cubic metres (m³)
French cord (cd) French	Timber/Lumber Volume	Canada, Quebec	8 French feet long, 4 French feet high and 3 English feet wide. A french foot = 12.789 inches	1 French cord (cd) French = 109.039014 cubic feet (ft³)	1 French cord (cd) French = 4.0925 cubic metres (m³)
Gefle standard (Gef.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	Used for telegraph post	1 Gefle standard (Gef.std) = 100 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Gefle standard (Gef.std) = 2.8 cubic metres (m³)
Gothenburg standard (Got.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	Used for pit props, pile of round wood 6 ft x 6 ft x 5 ft = 180 ft³ or as sawn lumber	1 Gothenburg standard (Got.std) = 180 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Gothenburg standard (Got.std) = 5.097 cubic metres (m³)
Haakondahl superficial foot (Hdf)	Timber/Lumber Volume	New Zealand	used in New Zealand. Same as Hoppus board foot	1 Haakondahl superficial foot (Hdf) = 0.106 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Haakondahl superficial foot (Hdf) = 0.003 cubic metres (m³)
hectostere (hst)	Volume	metric unit (old)	1 hectostre = 100 steres	1 hectostere (hst) = 3531.47 cubic feet (ft³)	1 hectostere (hst) = 100 cubic metres (m³)
Hoppus foot (h ft)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	quarter girth formula	1 Hoppus foot (h ft)1 = 0.273 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Hoppus foot (h ft) = 0.0360541289 cubic metres (m³)
Hoppus superficial foot (hs ft)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	Hoppus foot = 12 Hoppus superficial foot	1 Hoppus superficial foot (hs ft) = 0.106 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Hoppus superficial foot (hs ft) = 0.003 cubic metres (m³)
Hoppus ton (h tn)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Imperial unit	Shipments of tropical hardwoods from Southeast Asia, still used in Burma	1 Hoppus ton (h tn) = 63.66 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Hoppus ton (h tn) = 1.8 cubic metres (m³)
kilostere (kst)	Volume	metric unit (old)	1 kilosteres = 1000 steres	1 kilostere (kst) = 35314.7 cubic feet (ft³)	1 kilostere (kst) = 1000 cubic metres (m³)
koku	Volume	Japan	1 koku = 120 board feet, Breteon log scale	1 koku = 9.826 cubic feet (ft³)	1 koku = 0.278 cubic metres (m³)
lathwood	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	1 cubic fathom (pftm) lathwood contains about 180 - 200 pieces = 288 cubic feet	1 Lathwood = 288 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Lathwood = 8.155 cubic metres (m³)
load (Ld)	Timber/Lumber Volume	shipping, freight	Load of hewn goods. (1 load = 600 board feet	1 load (Ld) = 50 cubic feet (ft³)	1 load (Ld) = 1.416 cubic metres (m³)
London standard (Lon.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	Irish/London standard. 120 pieces - 3" x 9" x 12' = 3240 bf	1 London standard (Lon.std) = 270 cubic feet (ft³)	1 London standard (Lon.std) = 7.646 cubic metres (m³)
million board feet (mmbf)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	Mmbf = 1000000 board feet	1 million board foot (mmbf) = 83333.3 cubic feet (ft³)	1 million board foot (mmbf) = 2359.74 cubic metres (m³)
millistere (mst)	Volume	metric unit (old)	one millistere is equivalent to one litre	1 millistere (mst) = 0.0353147 cubic feet (ft³)	1 millistere (mst) = 0.001 cubic metres (m³)
Norway standards	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces, 3" x 9" x 12'	1 Norway standard (Nor.std) = 270 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Norway standard (Nor.std) = 7.646 cubic metres (m³)
Petrograd standard (Ptg.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	Petrograd Standard Hundred (PSH). 120 pieces - 1½" x 11" x 12' = 1980 bf	1 Petrograd standard (Ptg.std) = 165 cubic feet (ft³).	1 Petrograd standard (Ptg.std) = 4.672 cubic metres (m³)
Quebec standard (Que.std)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	100 pieces - 2½" x 11" x 12' = 2750 bf	1 Quebec standard (Que.std) = 229.167 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Quebec standard (Que.std) = 6.489 cubic metres (m³)
Riga last (Rl round timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	British timber measure	Last is an old North European measurement used for measuring large quantities.	1 Riga last (Rl round timber) = 65 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Riga last (Rl round timber) = 1.841 cubic metres (m³)
Riga last (Rl square timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	British timber measure	Last is a German word for load.	1 Riga last (Rl square timber) = 80 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Riga last (Rl square timber) = 2.265 cubic metres (m³)
rully	Timber/Lumber Volume	Danube lumber measurement	12 ft x 6 ft x 3ft = one fathom	1 rully = 216 cubic feet (ft³)	1 rully = 6.116 cubic metres (m³)
stack of wood	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	old English measure of fuel wood. Cut firewood 1 stack = 4 cubic yards	1 stack of wood = 108 cubic feet (ft³)	1 stack of wood = 3.058 cubic metres (m³)
stere (st)	Timber/Lumber Volume	metric unit (old)	used to measure stacked timber/firewood	1 stere (st) = 35.3147 cubic feet (ft³)	1 stere (st) = 1 cubic metres (m³)
Sweden standards	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	120 pieces, 3" x 9" x 14'	1 Sweden standard (Swe.std) = 315 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Sweden standard (Swe.std) = 8.92 cubic metres (m³)
thousand board feet (mbf)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	mbf = 1000 * 1 bf	1 thousand board foot (mbf) = 83.333 cubic feet (ft³)	1 thousand board foot (mbf) = 2.36 cubic metres (m³)
Upper Gulf hewn balks	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	a roughly hewn piece of timber.	1 Upper Gulf hewn balks = 150 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Upper Gulf hewn balks = 4.25 cubic metres (m³)
volumetric unit (vu)	Timber/Lumber Volume	North America	measurement used for woodchips equal to a volume of 200 cubic feet	1 volumetric unit (vu) = 200 cubic feet (ft³)	1 volumetric unit (vu) = 5.66 cubic metres (m³)
wagon load	Timber/Lumber Volume	Danube lumber measurement	1 wagon load = 22 cubic metres with an approximate weight of 10 tons	1 wagon load = 776.9 cubic feet (ft³)	1 wagon load = 22 cubic metres (m³)
Wyburg standard (square timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	1963 board feet (bf)	1 Wyburg standard (square timber) = 163.667 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Wyburg standard (square timber) = 4.635 cubic metres (m³)
Wyburg standard (round timber)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	1560 board feet (bf)	1 Wyburg standard (round timber) = 130 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Wyburg standard (round timber) = 3.68 cubic metres (m³)
Wyburg standard (sawn deals)	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	2160 board feet (bf)	1 Wyburg standard (sawn deals) = 180 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Wyburg standard (sawn deals) = 5.097 cubic metres (m³)
Standard	Timber/Lumber Volume	Timber/Lumber trade	Unit of volume used for the measurement of timber/lumber.	1 standard (std) = 1980 board feet (bf) 1 Standard (std) = 165 cubic feet (ft³)	1 Standard = 4.67 3.68 cubic metres (m³)