Board Foot Calculator
Calculate board feet and lumber cost from thickness, width and length.
in
in
ft
$/bd ft
Total board feet
8 bd ft
- Per board
- 8 bd ft
How we calculate this
Board feet = (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet) ÷ 12. This is the standard unit lumber yards use for pricing rough-sawn and hardwood lumber.
Example
A 2" × 6" × 8' board is 8 board feet: (2 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 = 8.
Common mistakes
- Using nominal dimensions instead of actual dimensions for finished/dressed lumber.
- Forgetting that board footage is a volume measurement, not a count of boards.
Frequently asked questions
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of lumber volume equal to a board 12" × 12" × 1" — used for pricing rough-sawn and specialty lumber.
Is board footage the same as linear footage?
No — linear footage measures length only. Board footage accounts for thickness and width too. See our Linear Foot Calculator for length-only totals.
Related calculators
Estimates are provided for planning purposes. Actual material requirements may vary based on supplier specifications, compaction, site conditions, installation method, waste, and local code.