Tree Volume Calculator (Cubic Feet From DBH & Height)

Calculate tree volume in cubic feet or cubic meters from trunk diameter at breast height and tree height, using a typical 0.5 form factor or your own.

Related Calculators

Tree Volume with a Form Factor

This calculator estimates stem volume as DBH basal area × modeled stem height × form factor. It also solves for DBH, height or the implied factor. The illustrative default factor is 0.5; use a locally supported factor matched to the species, bark and height definitions. The cylinder formulas below describe the reference case f = 1.

TV = π \times TR² \times TH

TV: estimated trunk volume
TR: trunk radius
TH: trunk height or trunk section length being modeled

If you measured diameter instead of radius, convert diameter first:

TR = (D) / (2)

If you measured circumference around the trunk, convert circumference to radius:

TR = (C) / (2π)

You can also express the same volume relationship directly in terms of diameter:

TV = (π \times D² \times TH) / (4)

How to Measure for the Calculator

Input	How to Measure It	Why It Matters
Diameter at breast height (DBH)	Enter the measured diameter using the DBH convention in your inventory protocol. Do not divide by two before entering DBH.	Basal area is proportional to DBH squared, so diameter errors strongly affect volume.
Trunk height or length	Use the stem height definition associated with the selected form factor: total or merchantable height as appropriate.	The DBH reference cylinder is scaled by the entered form factor to represent taper.
Units	Select the correct unit beside each measurement; the calculator converts them internally.	Consistent units prevent distorted results.

For standing trees, match the DBH, bark and height definitions to the source of the form factor. A cylinder at DBH with f = 1 does not account for taper. This simplified tool supports 0 < f ≤ 1; that is a model limit, not a universal bound for every breast-height form factor.

Unit Guidance

Choose DBH in cm, mm, inches or feet, and height in meters or feet.
Volume is available in cubic meters or cubic feet; select the result unit.
Changing an input unit converts the current quantity without calculating a new answer.
For an inverse task, enter the known quantities and choose the requested result unit.

Helpful conversions for interpreting the result:

One cubic foot corresponds to about 28.3168 liters.
One cubic meter corresponds to 1,000 liters.
One cubic meter corresponds to about 35.3147 cubic feet.

Examples

Example 1: Radius and length in feet

For the cylinder reference example, enter DBH = 3 feet, height = 20 feet and f = 1, with ft³ output:

TV = π \times 1.5² \times 20 \approx 141.37

The estimated trunk volume is about 141.37 cubic feet.

Example 2: Diameter-based estimate

For the cylinder reference example, enter DBH = 24 inches, height = 8 feet and f = 1. Its radius is 12 inches and its length is 96 inches:

TV = π \times 12² \times 96 \approx 43429.38

This corresponds to about 43,429.38 cubic inches, or about 25.13 cubic feet after conversion.

Why This Calculator Is an Approximation

A cylinder model is simple and fast, but real trees are not perfect cylinders. The estimate can differ from actual wood volume because of:

natural trunk taper from base to top
butt swell near the base
elliptical or irregular cross-sections
bark thickness
hollows, rot, and internal defects
crook, flare, or swelling around knots and branch zones

The estimate is typically most accurate for short, fairly uniform log sections and least accurate for full standing trunks with noticeable taper.

Adjusting for Taper or Form Factor

If you already know a local form factor or a forestry adjustment factor for the species and measurement method you are using, you can scale the cylindrical estimate:

TV adj = f \times π \times TR² \times TH

In this expression, f is the stem volume divided by the matching DBH reference-cylinder volume. It must be appropriate to the species, size, bark and height definitions. The tool’s ±0.05 factor sensitivity is illustrative, not a confidence interval. Its board-foot equivalent is dimensional volume only, not lumber recovery or a commercial log scale.

When to Use This Calculator

Estimating the volume of a cut log section
Comparing trunk sizes across multiple trees
Planning hauling space or storage capacity
Approximating stem wood volume for inventory work
Checking whether a measured trunk section is in a reasonable range before using more advanced forestry rules

Practical Tips for Better Results

Measure diameter in two directions at right angles and average the readings when the trunk is not perfectly round.
Decide whether you are measuring inside bark or outside bark, then stay consistent.
For logs, use the actual usable log length rather than a rough visual estimate.
For standing trees, estimate only the trunk section you truly want to model instead of assuming the same diameter all the way to the tip.
If you need a commercial log scale rather than a pure geometric volume, use a dedicated log rule calculator.

Common Questions

Can I use diameter instead of radius?
Yes. Enter diameter directly in the DBH field. The calculator performs the radius conversion internally.

Can I use circumference instead of diameter?
Convert circumference to diameter first using D = C/π, then enter that diameter in DBH with the matching unit.

Does this include branches, roots, or foliage?
No. This calculator estimates only the trunk or trunk section you model.

Why does my result seem too large for a standing tree?
Check units, DBH, height and the form-factor basis. Setting f = 1 uses a cylinder without taper; the default 0.5 is illustrative and is not a validated factor for every tree.