Board Feet Calculator for Lumber
Calculate board feet and cost of lumber from thickness, width, length and quantity.
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How to do it
- 1Step 1: Open Board Feet Calculator for Lumber and add your input
Type your numbers or text, add your file, or pick the options you need. Nothing is uploaded: everything stays in your browser.
- 2Step 2: What Board Feet Calculator for Lumber does
Calculate board feet and cost of lumber from thickness, width, length and quantity.
- 3Step 3: Read the result and compare
The result appears at once. Change one value to see how the answer moves, then keep the figure that fits your case.
- 4Step 4: Copy or save it
Copy the result or download it. For an important decision, confirm it with the official source or an adviser.
About this tool
Enter the thickness and width in inches, the length in feet, the number of boards and the price per board foot. The calculator gives the board feet of one board and of the whole order, and the cost.
Formula
Board feet = thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet ÷ 12. A board foot is a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long, which is 144 cubic inches.
Nominal sizes
Use the nominal size that the lumber yard prices by, such as 2 × 8, for the calculation. The actual size is smaller, but the price is based on the nominal board feet.
Use
Board feet is the unit for hardwood and many framing orders. For a deck, count the joists, beams and boards separately and add them.
Worked example
A 2 × 8 that is 12 feet long is 16 board feet. Twenty of them are 320 board feet, which at $1.80 a board foot costs $576.
Tips for best results
Check every box before you rely on a result, because one wrong digit changes the whole answer. Use the exact figures from your payslip, bill, certificate or contract, and keep a note of the date you calculated. Rates, thresholds and rules change from time to time, so for tax, fees and legal matters treat the output as an estimate and confirm with the official source named on this page. You can run as many scenarios as you like; nothing is saved or sent, and refreshing the page clears the boxes.
Quick facts
- Category: UK & US
- Works in your browser, no sign-up, no upload.
- Your input stays on your device.
- Available in English.
- Content last reviewed:
Frequently asked questions
What is a board foot?
144 cubic inches of lumber.
Do I use actual or nominal size?
The nominal size used for pricing.
How do I price a 2×4?
Compare per board foot to see which is cheaper.
Does it include waste?
No. Add 10% for cuts.