Board Foot Calculator
Calculate the board feet, cubic feet, and cubic meters of lumber for your woodworking or construction project. Get instant results and helpful insights for your material planning.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Dimensions
- •Measure length, width, and thickness of your lumber
- •Use actual dimensions, not nominal sizes
- •Enter the number of pieces you need
Select Unit System
- •Choose Imperial (inches) for US projects
- •Choose Metric (meters) for international projects
- •Calculator automatically converts between systems
View Results
- •See calculated board feet (volume in bd. ft.)
- •View volume in cubic feet and cubic meters
- •Get estimated cost and weight
Check Bonus Insights
- •See estimated material costs
- •View approximate weight of lumber
- •Download results for your records
Board Foot Calculator Guide
Understanding Board Feet
A board foot is a unit of volume for measuring lumber in North America. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches, or the volume of a piece of wood measuring 1 foot × 1 foot × 1 inch.
Key Concepts:
- 📏Board Foot Formula
Board Feet = (Length in inches × Width in inches × Thickness in inches × Quantity) ÷ 144
- 🪵Nominal vs. Actual
Lumber is sold by nominal dimensions (2×4), but actual dimensions are smaller (1.5×3.5 inches).
- 💰Pricing
Lumber is typically priced per board foot, especially for hardwoods and specialty woods.
- ⚖️Weight
The weight of lumber varies by species, with pine averaging about 2.5 lbs per board foot.
Common Lumber Dimensions
| Nominal Size | Actual Size (inches) | Board Feet per 8' Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 | 0.75" × 3.5" | 2.33 bd. ft. |
| 1×6 | 0.75" × 5.5" | 3.67 bd. ft. |
| 2×4 | 1.5" × 3.5" | 4.67 bd. ft. |
| 2×6 | 1.5" × 5.5" | 7.33 bd. ft. |
| 2×8 | 1.5" × 7.25" | 9.67 bd. ft. |
Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Sizes
Additional Considerations
- Waste Factor:
Consider adding 10-15% extra material to account for waste, defects, and cutting errors.
- Lumber Grades:
Higher grades (Select, Clear) have fewer defects but cost more than lower grades (Common, Construction).
- Moisture Content:
Kiln-dried lumber (KD) has a moisture content of 6-8% for indoor use, while air-dried may have 12-20%.
- Wood Species:
Different species have different properties and costs. Softwoods (pine, fir) are generally less expensive than hardwoods (oak, maple).
Board Foot Pricing by Wood Type
Frequently Asked Questions
A board foot is a unit of volume equal to 144 cubic inches, or the equivalent of a piece of wood measuring 12 inches × 12 inches × 1 inch. It's the standard unit for measuring and selling lumber in North America.
Nominal dimensions refer to the size of lumber before it's dried and planed (smoothed). During processing, lumber shrinks and loses approximately 1/4 to 3/4 inch from its nominal dimensions. For example, a 2×4 actually measures about 1.5×3.5 inches. Always use actual dimensions for accurate calculations.
Lumber costs vary widely depending on species, grade, and market conditions. As a general range: $2-5 per board foot for common softwoods (pine, fir), $5-10 per board foot for common hardwoods (oak, maple), and $10-25+ per board foot for exotic or specialty hardwoods (walnut, cherry, mahogany).
This calculator provides precise volume calculations based on the dimensions you enter. For the most accurate results, always use actual (not nominal) dimensions and consider adding a 10-15% waste factor for most projects to account for cutting waste and defects.
To convert board feet to cubic meters, multiply the number of board feet by 0.002359737. For example, 100 board feet equals about 0.236 cubic meters. This calculator automatically performs this conversion for you.
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