Board foot calculator
Hardwood and rough lumber are priced by the board foot. Enter the board size and quantity to get the total and the cost.
Board feet
4 board feet
- Per board
- 4 board feet
- Linear feet
- 8 ft
How it works
A board foot is a volume of wood: 144 cubic inches, the same as a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long. The formula is thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12.
Lumber is figured on nominal size. A 2×6 counts as 2 × 6 inches even though it actually measures 1½ × 5½. Hardwood thickness is given in quarters: 4/4 is 1 inch and 8/4 is 2 inches.
Example
With thickness 1 in, width 6 in, length 8 ft, number of boards 1, the answer is 4 board feet.
Tips before you buy
- Rough hardwood loses thickness when it’s planed. Buy 4/4 stock for boards you want to finish around ¾ inch.
- Add 15–30% for defects and offcuts when buying hardwood for furniture.
- Home centers usually price dimensional lumber per piece, not per board foot. This calculator is most useful at lumberyards.
Common questions
How many board feet are in a 2×4×8?
5.33. That’s 2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12.
How many board feet are in a 1×6×8?
4 board feet.
Is a board foot the same as a linear foot?
No. A linear foot is just length. A board foot accounts for thickness and width too.