Board Feet Calculator
Board feet is the standard unit for buying and selling hardwood lumber at lumber yards, sawmills, and woodworking suppliers. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches — typically a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. The formula is: (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet) ÷ 12. Softwood framing lumber (2×4, 2×6, 2×8) is sold by the linear foot or by the piece, but hardwood — oak, maple, cherry, walnut — is always priced in board feet. This calculator handles any combination of thickness, width, and length, converts to both board feet and linear feet, and applies your cost per board foot to estimate total material cost. Common hardwood prices range from $3–$5/BF for oak and poplar up to $15–$30/BF for exotic species like teak or ebony.
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How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your measurements in the fields above. Use the units shown next to each field (ft, in, etc.).
- 2Click Calculate to get your material estimate instantly.
- 3Review the highlighted result — it shows the key quantity you need to order.
- 4Use Copy Results to save your estimate, or bookmark the URL — your inputs are encoded in the link.
Pro tip: Always add 10% to your material order to account for waste, cuts, and defects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a board foot?
One board foot equals 144 cubic inches of wood — typically a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. It's the standard unit for buying and selling hardwood lumber. Softwood framing lumber is usually sold by linear foot.
How do I calculate board feet from lumber dimensions?
Use the formula: Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) ÷ 12. For example, a 2×6×8ft board: (2 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 = 8 board feet.
How many board feet in a standard 2×4×8 stud?
A 2×4×8 has nominal dimensions 2" × 4" × 8 ft, but the actual dimensions are 1.5" × 3.5". Using nominal dimensions for board foot calculation: (2 × 4 × 8) ÷ 12 = 5.33 board feet. Lumber yards typically price framing studs per piece rather than per board foot.
What is the difference between board feet and linear feet?
Linear feet measures length only — one linear foot of 2×4 and one linear foot of 2×12 are both 1 linear foot. Board feet accounts for thickness and width as well. Use board feet when ordering hardwood; use linear feet when ordering trim, molding, or structural framing.