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Lumber Board Foot Calculator

Calculate board feet and estimate lumber costs
Calculate Board Feet
From dimensions
Calculate Pieces Needed
From linear feet
Enter lumber dimensions to calculate board feet.
Nominal size (e.g., 2×4 = 2")
Nominal size (e.g., 2×4 = 4")
Calculate how many pieces you need for a project.
Total length needed
Length of each board

Enter lumber dimensions to calculate board feet.

Lumber Calculator Guide

What is a Board Foot?

A board foot is a unit of measurement for lumber volume. One board foot equals a piece of wood 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches).

Board Foot Formula

Board Feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 12

Where thickness and width are in inches, and length is in feet.

Example: A 2×4×8 board = (2 × 4 × 8) ÷ 12 = 5.33 board feet

Common Lumber Sizes
  • 2×4 × 8': 5.33 BF
  • 2×6 × 10': 10 BF
  • 2×8 × 12': 16 BF
  • 4×4 × 8': 10.67 BF
  • 1×6 × 8': 4 BF

Nominal vs Actual Sizes

Lumber is sold by nominal size, but actual dimensions are smaller after drying and planing:

  • 2×4 nominal: Actually 1.5" × 3.5"
  • 2×6 nominal: Actually 1.5" × 5.5"
  • 1×6 nominal: Actually 0.75" × 5.5"

Note: Use nominal sizes for board foot calculations.

Pro Tips
  • Waste Factor
    Add 10-15% extra for cuts, defects, and mistakes.
  • Pricing
    Hardwood is typically priced per board foot, while construction lumber is often priced per piece.
  • Length Matters
    Longer boards cost more per board foot but reduce waste.
Quick Reference
  • 1 Board Foot = 144 cubic inches
  • 1 Cubic Foot = 12 board feet
  • Linear Foot ≠ Board Foot

Lumber Calculator

Calculate board feet for your woodworking and construction projects. Estimate costs and determine how many boards you need!

Common Lumber
Dimensional Lumber 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12
Boards 1×4, 1×6, 1×8, 1×10, 1×12
Posts 4×4, 6×6
Related Tools
Concrete Calculator Volume Calculator
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Lumber & Woodworking:

Did You Know?

The term "board foot" has been used since the early 1800s and is still the standard measurement for hardwood lumber in North America!