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.
Updated · How we calculate
Your measurements
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.
Board feet in common lumber sizes
| Board | Size | Total board feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 6, 8 ft | nominal 1 × 6 in, 8 ft long | 4 bd ft |
| 2 × 4, 8 ft | nominal 2 × 4 in, 8 ft long | 5.33 bd ft |
| 2 × 6, 10 ft | nominal 2 × 6 in, 10 ft long | 10 bd ft |
| 2 × 8, 12 ft | nominal 2 × 8 in, 12 ft long | 16 bd ft |
| 2 × 10, 12 ft | nominal 2 × 10 in, 12 ft long | 20 bd ft |
| 2 × 12, 16 ft | nominal 2 × 12 in, 16 ft long | 32 bd ft |
| 4 × 4, 8 ft | nominal 4 × 4 in, 8 ft long | 10.67 bd ft |
| 6 × 6, 10 ft | nominal 6 × 6 in, 10 ft long | 30 bd ft |
Figures use this calculator's default settings; tap one above the inputs to load it and adjust.
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.
How do I calculate board feet?
Multiply thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet, then divide by 12. A 2 × 4 that is 8 ft long is 2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12 = 5.33 board feet.
How many board feet are in a 2 × 6 × 10?
10 board feet: 2 × 6 × 10 ÷ 12 = 10. A 2 × 8 × 12 is 16 board feet and a 2 × 12 × 16 is 32 board feet.
Do I use nominal or actual dimensions?
Softwood framing lumber is tallied by its nominal size, so a 2 × 4 is figured as 2 in × 4 in even though it measures 1½ × 3½ in. Hardwood is sold by its rough thickness in quarters of an inch (4/4 is 1 in, 8/4 is 2 in) and its actual width.