Log Volume Calculator

Last updated: 16 Jun 2026 | Author: Brij | Review By: Irshad

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Calculate log volume quickly and accurately for timber sales, forestry, or woodworking. Enter your measurements to get instant cubic volume and board feet estimates.

Enter Log size

Diameter:

Length:

Number of logs:

Log Scale:

Doyle

Scribner

Total Board Feet:

There are several methods to calculate log volume, each with its own formula and approach. The most common and popular methods are:

Doyle Formula
Scribner Rule

Doyle Formula

The Doyle log rule is a common method used to estimate the volume of lumber that can be sawn from a log. The Doyle rule tends to underestimate log volumes for smaller logs and overestimate for larger ones. Here's the formula and method to calculate the log volume using the Doyle log rule:

$V = (D - 4)^2 \cdot \frac{L}{16}$

$\text{Board Feet} = \left( \frac{D - 4}{4} \right)^2 \times L$

Where:

𝐷 is the diameter of the log in inches (measured at the small end, inside the bark).
𝐿 is the length of the log in feet.

Steps to Calculate Log Volume using Doyle Rule

Measure the Diameter: Measure the diameter (D) of the log at the small end, inside the bark, in inches.
Measure the Length: Measure the length (L) of the log in feet.
Apply the Formula: Plug the values of D and L into the Doyle formula.

Example Calculation

Suppose you have a log with a diameter of 16 inches and a length of 12 feet:

Diameter (D): 16 inches
Length (L): 12 feet

Calculation:

$\text{Board Feet} = \left( \frac{16 - 4}{4} \right)^2 \times 12$

$\text{Board Feet} = \left( \frac{12}{4} \right)^2 \times 12$

$\text{Board Feet} = (3)^2 \times 12$

$\text{Board Feet} = 9 \times 12$

$\text{Board Feet} =108$

So, the log volume is estimated to be 108 board feet using the Doyle log rule.

Scribner log rule

The Scribner rule is typically represented by a set of tables, but it can also be estimated with the following formula

$v = \frac{(0.79D^2 - 2D - 4)L}{16}$

Where:

𝐷 is the diameter of the log in inches (measured at the small end, inside the bark).
𝐿 is the length of the log in feet.

Example Calculation

Suppose you have a log with a diameter of 16 inches and a length of 12 feet:

Diameter (D): 16 inches
Length (L): 12 feet

Calculation:

Board Feet = (((0.79 x 16 x 16) - (2 x 16) - 4) x 12 ) / 16

Board Feet = ((202.24 - 32 - 4) x 12 ) / 16

Board Feet = (166.24 x 12 ) /16

Board Feet = 1994.88 / 16

Board Feet = 124.68

FAQs

Q1. What is the most accurate log volume formula?

The most accurate formula depends on how you measure the log. For commercial forestry and trade, the Huber formula ( $V = A_m \times L$ ) is widely considered the most accurate for standard logs because it uses the mid-diameter, which averages out the natural taper of the tree. For sawmills cutting lumber, formulas like the Doyle, Scribner, or International 1/4-Inch rule are preferred as they estimate the actual usable board feet rather than total cubic volume.

Q2. What is the difference between total log volume and board feet?

Total Log Volume (measured in Cubic Feet or Cubic Meters) calculates the entire solid wood content of the log, including the bark, core, and waste wood.

Board Feet (BF) estimates only the volume of usable lumber that can be sawn from the log after accounting for sawmill waste, slab cuts, and sawdust losses (kerf).

Check out 2 Similar Calculators:

Log Volume Calculator

Lumber Yield Calculator - How to Estimate Usable Lumber from Logs

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