About TimberMath
TimberMath is an independent data project that turns public-domain wood science — primarily the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook — into fast, free calculators and reference tables for woodworkers. Every number is traceable to a published source, every formula is documented on the page that uses it, and nothing on the site is sponsored or pay-to-rank.
What this site is
TimberMath is an independent data project: a small library of woodworking calculators and reference tables built directly on published wood science. It exists because the primary sources — chiefly the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook — are authoritative but not convenient at the bench. This site puts those numbers one search away, with the math shown.
How the data is handled
Every value is transcribed from a published, citable source, and every calculator documents its formula on the page that uses it. Derived figures (movement estimates, weight per board foot, unit conversions) are computed from those source values with the formulas listed on the methodology page — nothing is estimated by eye or crowd-sourced.
When a value is corrected upstream or an error is reported, the dataset is checked against the source and updated site-wide; the methodology page records the source editions in use.
Independence
This project is not affiliated with the USDA, any lumber retailer, or any tool brand. It may carry clearly labeled advertising in the future to cover costs; advertising will never change a published value, a ranking, or a recommendation. There is no sponsored data on this site.
Corrections
Spotted a number that doesn't match the source, or a calculator behaving oddly? Please get in touch — corrections are the fastest way to make the site better for everyone.