Board Foot Calculator
Enter lumber dimensions and quantity to get total board feet — and an optional cost if you add a price per board foot.
Lumber
Use nominal thickness/width (a 2×6 is 2 × 6). One board foot = 144 cubic inches.
Result
Per piece0 bd ft
Total board feet
0
1 pieces
Board feet = (thickness × width × length-in-feet) ÷ 12. Hardwood is usually priced per board foot.
How to calculate board feet
The formula is (thickness × width × length-in-feet) ÷ 12. Multiply by quantity for the total, and by your price per board foot for cost. It's the standard way hardwood is measured and sold.
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Board foot FAQ
- How do you calculate board feet?
- Board feet equal thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet, divided by 12. A 2×6 that's 8 feet long is (2 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 = 8 board feet.
- What is a board foot?
- A board foot is a volume of lumber equal to 144 cubic inches — a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. It's the standard unit for pricing hardwood.
- Do I use nominal or actual dimensions?
- Lumber is sold by nominal size (a 2×4 is really 1.5 × 3.5 inches). For board-foot pricing, use the nominal thickness and width unless your supplier specifies surfaced (actual) dimensions.
- How is lumber priced per board foot?
- Hardwood and rough lumber are usually quoted as a price per board foot. Multiply your total board feet by that price to estimate material cost.
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