Board Foot Calculator

A board foot (BF) is a specialized unit of volume measurement used in the US and Canada for rough-sawn hardwood lumber. One board foot represents a volume equal to a 12-inch by 12-inch square board that is 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches).

To use the Board Foot Calculator, enter your Lumber Thickness, Lumber Width, Lumber Length and other values. The calculator instantly computes Board Feet (Per Piece), Total Board Feet and more. Results update in real time as you change any input — no submit button needed.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Lumber Thickness (e.g. 2 in inches), Lumber Width (e.g. 6 in inches), Lumber Length (e.g. 8 in feet), Number of Pieces (e.g. 10 in pieces), and Price per Board Foot (optional) (e.g. 4.50 in ). Measure twice before entering dimensions — small measurement errors scale up significantly in material estimates.

The Formula

Board Feet (BF) = [Thickness (inches) × Width (inches) × Length (feet)] ÷ 12

Alternatively (all inches): [Thickness (in) × Width (in) × Length (in)] ÷ 144

Total Cost = Total Board Feet × Price per Board Foot

Worked Example

Calculate board feet for 10 pieces of 2x6 lumber, 8 feet long, priced at 4.50 per board foot.

• Board Feet per Piece: ÷ 12 = 8.00 BF.

• Total Board Feet (10 pieces): 8.00 × 10 = 80.00 BF.

• Total Hardwood Cost: 80.00 BF × 4.50 = 360.

00.

Understanding Your Result

Construction estimates are starting points — site conditions, material specifications, and local code requirements will affect final quantities and costs. Always obtain at least three contractor bids for major projects. Local building departments can confirm permit requirements and inspection milestones. Add waste factors appropriate to the material type and complexity: 10% for simple rectangular shapes, 15–20% for complex geometries or custom cuts.