Lesson 8.02: Standing Timber Volume

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Tree Volume Tables

Tree volume tables give us the merchantable content of a stand of trees.  These tables are derived from log rules.  These volumes given by the tables are derived by formulas.  There are over 50 different log rules used in the United States, and the values given to trees or logs vary significantly.  The three common rules used today are the Doyle, Scribner and the International.

1. Doyle Rule – The Doyle method tends to favor the buyer of logs that are less than 28" in diameter because more lumber can usually be cut from trees of this size than the formula indicates.  This rule is mostly used for the purchase of sawtimber and sawlogs.
2. Scribner Rule – The Scribner is favored by forestry agencies such as the USDA Forest Service.  The Scribner estimates the amount of 1" lumber that can be sawn from logs of certain dimensions.  The Scribner also is used mostly for the purchase of sawtimber and sawlogs.
3. International – The International is said to be one of the most accurate volume tables used in the United States.  The International, unlike the Scribner and Doyle, takes into account the amount of wood taper of the log from the small end to the large end.  (If we look at a tree we notice that the tree is larger in diameter towards the base of the tree and it tapers or gets smaller as we look up the tree.)  

Visit the following sites to learn more about measuring tree volume and see how boards are cut from logs.

• Forest Landowner’s Guide To The Measurement Of Timber And Logs
• How to Measure Trees and Logs
• Measuring Timber Products Harvested from Your Woodland

The Timber Mart-South Stumpage Prices site contains the current and historical stumpage prices. Make sure to save this site for your future reference!

Determining Tree Volume

Let’s determine volume!  We have learned about measuring trees at dbh or diameter at breast height (4.5 ft from the ground) and we have learned about merchantable height.  Remember merchantable height is the sellable or marketable portion of the tree!  The forestry mills that purchase the trees will give the foresters and loggers a certain top limiting diameter on the log.

For this exercise, we will use a 4" top on our pulpwood and an 8" top on our sawtimber. Please refer to the attached log rules to determine your volume.

Pulpwood – You just measured the following 5 trees and need to determine the volume of those trees.  Use the pulpwood volume table to determine your answer.  Remember, pulpwood logs will be used to make products such as paper, cardboard and toilet paper.

The total volume of the 5 trees is ?85 cubic feet.

Sawtimber – You just measured the following 5 trees and need to determine the volume of those trees.  Use the sawtimber volume table to determine your answer.  Remember, sawtimber or sawlogs are used for products such as plywood, 2x4’s, furniture and railroad crossties.

The total volume of the 5 trees is ?1197 board feet.