Construction
Lumber Board Foot Calculator
Board feet = the universal unit for selling rough lumber. Plug in thickness, width, length, and quantity. Add a $/bf price for a cost estimate.
Enter lumber dimensions.
Formula
Board feet = (thickness in × width in × length ft) ÷ 12
One board foot = 144 cubic inches of wood — equivalent to a 12×12×1-inch block.
FAQ
Nominal vs actual dimensions? +
A "2×4" is actually 1.5×3.5 after milling. For board foot pricing, use the nominal (rough) dimensions you were quoted on.
Why is hardwood usually sold in board feet? +
Hardwood lumber comes in random widths and lengths. Board feet normalize the volume so price-per-unit makes sense across pieces.