A fixed vertical distance from the ground up the trunk of a standing tree, established to ensure consistency in timber cruising and forest inventory. In North America, it is standardized at 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the tree. In metric systems, it is typically 1.3 meters. Measuring at this height avoids the swelling at the base of the tree and provides a reliable metric for calculating timber volume.
Heard on the job
Make sure your tape is level at breastheight, you're measuring too low on these sloped trees.
Insider tip
The resulting measurement is recorded as DBH (Diameter at Breast Height), which is the most fundamental data point in forest mensuration.
Also heard as
- breast height