Board Foot Calculator
A board foot is a volume of lumber 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long (144 in³). Enter the rough dimensions and quantity to total the board feet and cost.
Your measurements
in
in
ft
Total board feet
4 bd ft
What to buy
- Boards
- 1 board
Estimates only. Verify against your supplier's coverage figures before ordering.
Footprint
Board to scale
4 bd ft each
Per board
- Board feet each
- 4 bd ft
- Nominal size
- 1 in × 6 in × 8 ft
Lumber volume unit = thickness(in) × width(in) × length(ft) ÷ 12. Hardwood is priced this way.
The called-out size before planing — a "2×4" actually measures about 1.5 × 3.5 in.
The formula
Board feet = (Thickness in × Width in × Length ft) ÷ 12 × Quantity
Example: A 1 in × 6 in × 8 ft board = (1 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 = 4 board feet.
How it works
- 1Multiply thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft), then divide by 12.
- 2That gives board feet for one board; multiply by quantity for the total.
- 3Hardwood is priced per board foot, so multiply by the unit price for cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is a board foot the same as a linear foot?
No. A linear foot only measures length. A board foot measures volume (thickness × width × length), so two boards of the same length can have very different board-foot counts.