Part of the Construction collection — 4 tools available
Lumber Calculator — Board Feet & Cost
Calculate board feet for any lumber dimensions. Enter thickness, width, length, and quantity to estimate total board feet and material cost instantly.
About This Calculator
Lumber is sold by the board foot, but figuring out how many board feet are in a stack of 2*6*8s isn't mental math most people want to attempt at the lumber yard. The board foot formula — thickness times width times length divided by 12 — is straightforward for one piece, but multiplying by quantity and price gets tedious fast. Our lumber calculator handles the conversion from nominal dimensions into board feet, then multiplies by your quantity and price per board foot so you know the total material cost before you reach the checkout.
The Formula Behind This Calculator
Board feet = (Thickness * Width * Length) / 144 Total = Board feet * Quantity Cost = Total * Price per bf
Understanding the math helps you verify results and make better decisions for your project.
Related Tools
How to Use
- 1Enter thickness in inches (e.g., 2 for a 2*6).
- 2Enter width in inches.
- 3Enter board length in feet.
- 4Enter the number of boards needed.
- 5Enter price per board foot.
- 6Click Calculate.
When to Use
- →Pricing lumber at the yard when hardwood is sold by the board foot
- →Comparing costs between different wood species for a furniture or woodworking project
- →Estimating total lumber cost for a deck, pergola, or framing project before purchasing
Tips
- ✓Use actual dressed dimensions for cost estimates but nominal dimensions for board foot calculations at the lumber yard
- ✓Hardwood prices vary dramatically by grade — select grade is twice the price of common but has fewer defects
- ✓Buy 10-15% extra to account for warps, splits, and mistakes — you can always return unused boards
FAQ
What is a board foot?
A board foot is 144 cubic inches of lumber — equivalent to a piece 1" thick × 12" wide × 12" long. Formula: (T × W × L) / 12.
Why is nominal size different from actual size?
A 2×4 is actually 1.5×3.5" after milling. Board foot calculations typically use nominal dimensions.
What does hardwood cost per board foot?
Red oak runs $4-6/BF. Exotics like walnut or mahogany can be $10-20+/BF depending on grade and region.
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