diff --git a/docs/CAPTURE.md b/docs/CAPTURE.md
index cedf890..8535328 100644
--- a/docs/CAPTURE.md
+++ b/docs/CAPTURE.md
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ On the same photo, keep the approved mask in view and draw the minimum-area boun
 User enters length `L` in inches (1/8 in steps) and thickness (1/8 in steps), then presses Calculate.
 
 - `scale = longest_axis_px / L` where `longest_axis_px` is the mask/wood span along the approved length direction (slab pixels end-to-end on that axis), not the rectangle edge length. The rectangle sets direction only; user-entered `L` is wood end→end along that direction.
-- Widths: min, max, avg, sampled every 6 in along the approved length axis, perpendicular to it
+- Widths: min, max, avg from samples taken every 6 in along the approved length axis, perpendicular to it, after dropping the first and last 6 in of the span (bulk widths, not tips). If `L ≤ 12 in` there are no interior stations and all three are 0.
 - `sqft = (mask_pixels / scale²) / 144` (2 decimals)
 - `bdft = sqft × thickness_in` (2 decimals)
 - Crop: 3:4 portrait, slab centered, 80% fill at the widest and tallest points, transparent background
diff --git a/frontend/src/measure/measure.ts b/frontend/src/measure/measure.ts
index cbcfc64..074bc88 100644
--- a/frontend/src/measure/measure.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/measure/measure.ts
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ function maskAxisSegment(
   };
 }
 
-// Sampled every 6 in along the wood axis; each sample is a line probe
-// perpendicular to the axis, width = max run of slab px across the probe.
+// Interior stations only (6, 12, … ≤ L−6). Tips dominate min/max on tapered
+// boards, so the first and last 6 in are excluded. Each sample is a line
+// probe perpendicular to the axis; width = max run of slab px across it.
 function sampleWidths(
   bitset: Uint8Array, w: number, h: number,
   start: [number, number], ux: number, uy: number,
@@ -48,11 +49,10 @@ function sampleWidths(
 ): Eighths[] {
   const px = -uy, py = ux;
   const stepPx = 6 * scale;
-  const count = Math.max(1, Math.floor(lengthIn / 6) + 1);
+  const lastPx = lengthIn > 12 ? Math.floor((lengthIn - 6) / 6) * 6 * scale : 0;
   const out: Eighths[] = [];
   const half = Math.max(2, Math.round((w + h) / 4));
-  for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {
-    const t = i * stepPx;
+  for (let t = stepPx; t <= lastPx; t += stepPx) {
     const ox = start[0] + ux * t;
     const oy = start[1] + uy * t;
     let minP = Infinity, maxP = -Infinity;