Woodworking calculator
Cubic Feet Calculator
Cubic feet measure the space a box-shaped object fills. Enter a length, width, and height in inches or feet and this calculator returns the volume in cubic feet, handy for sizing a shipping crate, estimating a kiln or dust-collection load, or working out how much a stack of lumber takes up in storage.
How it works
The volume of any rectangular box is simply length times width times height. When the dimensions are in inches the product is in cubic inches, so the calculator divides by 1728, the number of cubic inches in one cubic foot, since a cubic foot is 12 inches cubed.
If you measure in feet instead, no conversion is needed and the three measurements multiply directly into cubic feet. This tool accepts either unit and handles the conversion for you, so a crate measured as 24 by 18 by 12 inches and the same crate measured as 2 by 1.5 by 1 feet both return the identical volume.
Worked example
A crate 24 × 18 × 12 inches: (24 × 18 × 12) / 1728 = 3 ft³.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic inches are in a cubic foot?
There are 1728 cubic inches in one cubic foot, because a cubic foot is a cube 12 inches on each side and 12 times 12 times 12 equals 1728.
How do I find cubic feet from inches?
Multiply the length, width, and height in inches together to get cubic inches, then divide by 1728 to convert that volume into cubic feet.
What is cubic feet used for in woodworking?
Cubic feet help size shipping crates, estimate the air volume a dust collector must move, gauge how much space a lumber stack occupies, and figure kiln loads when drying wood.
Is cubic feet the same as board feet?
No. One cubic foot equals twelve board feet, since a board foot is 144 cubic inches and a cubic foot is 1728 cubic inches. Board feet are used for pricing lumber, cubic feet for raw volume.
Related calculators
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.