FBM (Foot Board Measure)
FBM is the abbreviation for foot board measure, which is another way of writing board foot or board feet. One FBM equals one board foot — a volume of 144 cubic inches of lumber. FBM is the standard abbreviation used on invoices, tally sheets, and lumber price lists throughout North America.
In-Depth Explanation
FBM stands for foot board measure, and it is simply the abbreviated form of board foot (singular) or board feet (plural). The abbreviation appears ubiquitously in lumber industry documentation: price lists quote dollars per FBM, tally sheets record quantities in FBM, and inventory systems track stock in FBM. The term dates to an era when board measure was the standard volumetric system for the lumber trade, distinguishing it from other measures of wood volume like the cord (used for firewood and pulpwood) or the log scale (used for estimating board feet in uncut logs). While board foot and FBM are completely interchangeable, FBM tends to appear in more formal commercial contexts while board foot is used in everyday conversation. Related abbreviations include MBF (thousand board feet) and MMBF (million board feet), which are used for larger quantities in wholesale transactions and industry reporting.
Usage Example
The invoice listed 850 FBM of 4/4 FAS red oak at $4.75 per FBM for a subtotal of $4,037.50 before shipping.