1. How much wood is in that tree? How much is that tree worth?
Measuring tree volume
How much wood is in that tree?
How much is that tree worth?

2. Tools Needed Clinometer – used to measure the height of the tree
Tape measure – used to measure the diameter and distance from the tree
Calculator – used to calculate the board footage in a tree
Log Sheet – used to log in all the measurments we take in the field

3. Using the Clinometer
A Clinometer is a tool used to measure angle and will be used to figure out the height of the tree. It has degrees to measure the angle

4. Tape Measure
When measuring the diameter, measure in total inches and then divide by 12 to give your dimension in feet.
37 inches in diameter will be = 3.08 ft
37/12 or 3.08 ft

5. Calculator
A simple calculator will work fine for this exercise. We will be using a table of information for you to make simple calculations.

6. Log Sheet
The only way to keep track of the trees we measure is to log all the information.
Board Footage Data Sheet
Tree # _____ Tree species: ___________________
Height _____ feet
Diameter _____ inches
Diameter in feet / 2 = ________ radius in inches / 12 = _____ feet
Area of tree cross-section = above number squared x 3.14 =______ sq.ft.
Volume of tree in cubic feet = above number x tree height / 4 = ______
Volume of tree in board feet = above number x 12 = _________
What the tree is worth in material= above number x BF cost ____________

7. Measuring the Height of the Tree
By using the formula ab x Tangent
A = X, we can determine the height of the tree, where:
ab = the distance from the tree
A = the angle of elevation
X = the height of the tree
Tangents are determined by using tangent charts (See the chart )

8. Tree height samples Example 1:
if A = 35 feet, and B = 34°, then the tangent of B =
35 x = X
23.61 = X (the height is approximately 24 feet, or 7.3 m)

9. Tree height samples Example 2:
if a = 35 feet and b = 60°, then the tangent of A =
35 x = X
= X (the height is approximately 61 feet, or 18.6 m)

10. Measuring the tree
To measure volume of the tree, 5’ above the ground measure the diameter of tree.
To get the volume
Diameter is equal to Circumference / 3.14
Example : Circumference = 28”
that is 28/12 = 2.33 feet
2.33’/3.14 = .75’

11. Getting the volume
After we get the diameter we need to find the area of the tree
Diameter/2 to get your radius
Area = 3.14 x r2
Our area in the previous example was .75
.75/2 = .375
.3752 x 3.14 = .44

12. Almost there!! Cubic Area of the tree
Cubic Feet = Area (ft) X Height (ft) / 4
We found the area in the previous example
= .44
Now we multiply .44 x 61’ and divide by 4
WHY divide by 4? It accounts for the taper of the tree
Our total cubic feet in our tree is 6.71

13. 81 board feet of material in it It is an oak $3.25 per BF
Final total
1 cubic foot has 12 board feet of material in it.
That makes our tree have 6.71 x 12 =
81 board feet of material in it
It is an oak $3.25 per BF
Our tree is worth
3.25 x 81 = $263.25