General

Board Foot Calculator

Calculate board feet for lumber purchasing based on thickness, width, and length.

5.3
Total Board Feet

Board feet = (thickness in inches x width in inches x length in feet) / 12. One board foot equals a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. Hardwood lumber is priced per board foot. Nominal and actual sizes differ for dimensional lumber.

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What is a board foot?

A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber. It equals a piece of wood that is 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long, or 144 cubic inches. Hardwood lumber is almost always priced by the board foot. Knowing how to calculate board feet lets you compare prices between suppliers and estimate material costs accurately.

How to calculate board feet

Multiply thickness in inches times width in inches times length in feet, then divide by 12. A 2 inch thick board that is 6 inches wide and 8 feet long is (2 x 6 x 8) / 12 = 8 board feet. This calculator does it for you and can handle multiple boards at once so you can add up a full material list quickly.

Board feet vs linear feet

Linear feet only measures length. Board feet measures volume. A 10 foot long 1x6 is 10 linear feet but only 5 board feet. A 10 foot long 2x12 is also 10 linear feet but 20 board feet. When you are buying framing lumber at the box store, it is usually priced per piece or per linear foot. When you are buying hardwood from a mill or specialty supplier, it is priced per board foot.

Common Questions

How much does a board foot of walnut cost?

Black walnut runs $8 to $15 per board foot for common grades and $15 to $25 or more for select or FAS grade. Prices change with supply so always call your lumber dealer for a current quote.

What is the cheapest hardwood lumber?

Poplar is usually the cheapest hardwood at $3 to $5 per board foot. Soft maple and red oak are also affordable options. Prices depend on your region and what mills are nearby.

Is it cheaper to buy rough sawn lumber?

Yes. Rough sawn lumber costs 20 to 40 percent less than surfaced (S4S) lumber. You need a planer and jointer to mill it yourself, but the savings add up fast on bigger projects.

How many board feet of lumber are in a tree?

A healthy 20 inch diameter hardwood tree yields roughly 200 to 300 board feet of usable lumber. Bigger trees produce a lot more because the volume goes up fast with diameter.

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