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Lumber Volume Calculator

Board Foot Calculator

Calculate the board feet in one or multiple pieces of lumber using thickness, width, length, quantity, and an optional price per board foot.

Enter Lumber Dimensions

Use inches for thickness and width, and feet for length.

in
in
ft
qty
$ per BF
Leave this field empty when you only need the lumber volume.
Total lumber volume
— board feet
Board feet per piece —
Number of boards —
Estimated cost Not calculated
Your board foot calculation will appear here.
Measurement tip: Board feet measure lumber volume, not surface area. Confirm whether your lumber supplier prices rough wood using nominal dimensions or finished wood using actual dimensions.

How to Calculate Board Feet

A board foot represents 144 cubic inches of lumber. To calculate board feet when length is entered in feet, multiply the board's thickness, width, and length, then divide the result by 12.

Board Feet = Thickness (in) × Width (in) × Length (ft) ÷ 12
Example: A 2-inch-thick, 6-inch-wide, and 10-foot-long board contains 10 board feet.
Calculation: 2 × 6 × 10 ÷ 12 = 10 board feet.

Board Foot vs Square Foot

Board Foot

A board foot measures the volume of lumber. It considers thickness, width, and length, making it useful when pricing hardwood, rough lumber, slabs, and timber.

Square Foot

A square foot measures surface area only. It uses length and width without considering the material's thickness.

Two boards can have the same surface area but different board foot values when their thicknesses are different.

How This Board Foot Calculator Works

Enter the lumber dimensions and quantity to receive the volume for one board and the complete order.

Enter Dimensions

Enter thickness and width in inches, followed by the board length in feet.

Add the Quantity

Enter the total number of equal-sized boards included in your lumber order or project.

Review the Result

See board feet per piece, total board feet, and estimated cost when a price is provided.

Common Lumber Board Foot Table

The table below shows board foot values based on the displayed dimensions for one piece of lumber.

Lumber Size Calculation Board Feet
1 × 6 × 8 ft (1 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 4 BF
1 × 8 × 10 ft (1 × 8 × 10) ÷ 12 6.6667 BF
2 × 4 × 8 ft (2 × 4 × 8) ÷ 12 5.3333 BF
2 × 6 × 10 ft (2 × 6 × 10) ÷ 12 10 BF
2 × 8 × 12 ft (2 × 8 × 12) ÷ 12 16 BF
4 × 4 × 8 ft (4 × 4 × 8) ÷ 12 10.6667 BF

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about lumber measurements, board feet, and material cost.

What is a board foot?

A board foot is a lumber volume equal to a board measuring 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. It represents 144 cubic inches of wood.

How do you calculate board feet?

Multiply thickness in inches by width in inches by length in feet, then divide the result by 12. Multiply by the number of boards to calculate the total.

What is the board foot formula?

The standard formula is: board feet = thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet ÷ 12.

How many board feet are in a 2 × 4 × 8 board?

Using actual entered dimensions of 2 inches by 4 inches by 8 feet, the board contains approximately 5.3333 board feet.

Should I use nominal or actual lumber dimensions?

Use the dimensions required by your supplier or project estimate. Rough lumber is often priced using nominal dimensions, while finished lumber may need actual measured dimensions.

Can this calculator estimate lumber cost?

Yes. Enter the price per board foot, and the calculator will multiply it by the total board feet to estimate the lumber cost.

Does the calculator include waste?

The main result does not automatically add waste. You can increase the quantity or total board feet by an appropriate waste percentage for cutting, defects, or grain matching.