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Ecology

Tree basal area calculator

Cross-sectional trunk area at breast height (DBH), the standard forestry measure of stand density.

What this calculator does

Tree basal area works out cross-sectional trunk area at breast height (DBH), the standard forestry measure of stand density. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.

The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.

The formula

FormulaBA = π·(DBH/2)²; stand basal area = BA per tree × stems per hectare

The inputs explained

FieldWhat to enter
Diameter at breast height (DBH) (cm)A number, measured in cm. Starts at 30.
Stems per hectare (0 to skip) (trees/ha)A number, measured in trees/ha. Starts at 0.

Worked examples

Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.

How the answer changes with diameter at breast height (dbh)

Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while diameter at breast height (dbh) varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.

How the answer changes with diameter at breast height (dbh)
Diameter at breast height (DBH) (cm)Basal area per treeBasal area per treeBasal area per tree
150.0177 m²0.190 ft²176.7 cm²
22.50.0398 m²0.428 ft²397.6 cm²
300.0707 m²0.761 ft²706.9 cm²
450.1590 m²1.712 ft²1,590.4 cm²
600.2827 m²3.043 ft²2,827.4 cm²
900.6362 m²6.848 ft²6,361.7 cm²