How many board feet in a 16 in × 16 ft log?
A 16 in (small end, inside bark) × 16 ft log scales about 181 board feet by the International ¼-inch rule, 166 board feet by the Scribner formula and 144 board feet by Doyle.
How to work it out
- Doyle: (16 − 4)² × 16 ÷ 16 = 144 · Scribner: (0.79 × 16² − 2 × 16 − 4) × 16 ÷ 16 = 166
- International ¼″: 4 full 4 ft sections, diameter growing ½ in per section for taper, × 0.905 for kerf = 181
Sixteen feet is the standard sawlog length, and 16 in is a typical merchantable hardwood log. The 37 board-foot gap between Doyle and International on this one log is why log buyers always state which rule they scale by.
Adjust for your project
More options: Price per MBF (optional)
- International ¼-inch
- 181 board feet
- Doyle
- 144 board feet
- Scribner (Bruce formula, ≈)
- 166 board feet
- Scribner Decimal C (published table, 16 ft logs)
- 160 board feet
- Solid volume (small-end cylinder)
- 22.3 cu ft
- These are gross figures for a sound, straight log. A scaler deducts for rot, sweep, crook, splits and metal to get the net scale you are paid on, and the extra length left for trimming (the trim allowance) is not counted.
A 16 in log by length, all three rules
| Log length | International ¼-inch | Scribner (Bruce formula, ≈) | Doyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 84 board feet | 83 board feet | 72 board feet |
| 10 ft | 108 board feet | 104 board feet | 90 board feet |
| 12 ft | 131 board feet | 125 board feet | 108 board feet |
| 14 ft | 156 board feet | 145 board feet | 126 board feet |
| 16 ft | 181 board feet | 166 board feet | 144 board feet |
What to know about a 16 in × 16 ft log
- Published tables round it. The Virginia Cooperative Extension guide (420-085) lists this exact log at 180 board feet International, 160 Scribner and 144 Doyle. The calculator’s 181 and 166 come from the formulas; a buyer reading a printed Scribner Decimal C table would write down 160, which the calculator also shows.
- What the gap means in money. At the same price per MBF, a log scaled at 144 Doyle pays about 20% less than one scaled at 180 International. That is why a Doyle price and an International price for “16-inch logs” cannot be compared until you convert one to the other.
- Get the diameter right. Take the small end inside the bark; measured over thick bark, the same log can tape an inch or two bigger. One inch of diameter here moves the International figure by roughly 25 board feet.
Smaller and bigger logs behave very differently: see board feet in a 12 in × 16 ft log and board feet in a 20 in × 16 ft log.
Different size? Use the full Log Board Foot Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Log scale stickBudget price
A graduated stick that reads board feet directly from a log’s small-end diameter. Check which rule it is printed for.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cant hook / log peaveyMid-range price
A long lever with a swinging hook for rolling and turning logs by hand — for measuring, bucking and loading without a tractor.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 25 ft tape measureBudget price
A 25 ft tape with a stiff blade and a readable 1/16 in scale covers everything from cut lists to deck layout.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How many board feet in a 16 in × 12 ft log?
About 131 board feet by International ¼-inch, 125 board feet by the Scribner formula and 108 board feet by Doyle.
How many board feet in a 16 in × 8 ft log?
About 84 board feet International, 83 board feet Scribner and 72 board feet Doyle — short logs like this are common from yard trees.
Other common sizes
- Board feet in a 12 in × 16 ft log — 64 board feet
- Board feet in a 20 in × 16 ft log — 290 board feet
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Forest Landowner’s Guide to the Measurement of Timber and Logs (publication 420-085) (opens in a new tab) — Doyle, Scribner and International ¼-inch rules; published board feet for 16 ft logs, including the Scribner Decimal C column used here; Doyle and Scribner underscale small logs.
- Briggs, D. — Forest Products Measurements and Conversion Factors, Chapter 2: Measurement of logs (University of Washington, College of Forest Resources) (opens in a new tab) — Gross vs net scale (defect deductions), trim allowance, and the Bruce and Schumacher formula BF = (0.79D² − 2D − 4) × L ÷ 16 as an approximation of Scribner.