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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.

1Step 1: Enter Your Lumber Details

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in
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in
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in
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pieces
Imperial
Metric

Pro Tip

For standard dimensional lumber, remember that nominal sizes (like 2×4) are different from actual sizes (1.5×3.5 inches). This calculator uses actual dimensions.

2Results

Board Feet:0.00 bd. ft.
Cubic Feet:0.00 cu. ft.
Cubic Meters:0.0000 cu. m.

Bonus Insight

Enter dimensions to see additional insights about your lumber.

How to Use This Calculator

1

Enter Dimensions

  • •Measure length, width, and thickness of your lumber
  • •Use actual dimensions, not nominal sizes
  • •Enter the number of pieces you need
2

Select Unit System

  • •Choose Imperial (inches) for US projects
  • •Choose Metric (meters) for international projects
  • •Calculator automatically converts between systems
3

View Results

  • •See calculated board feet (volume in bd. ft.)
  • •View volume in cubic feet and cubic meters
  • •Get estimated cost and weight
4

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

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    Nominal vs. Actual

    Lumber is sold by nominal dimensions (2×4), but actual dimensions are smaller (1.5×3.5 inches).

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    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 SizeActual Size (inches)Board Feet per 8' Length
1×40.75" × 3.5"2.33 bd. ft.
1×60.75" × 5.5"3.67 bd. ft.
2×41.5" × 3.5"4.67 bd. ft.
2×61.5" × 5.5"7.33 bd. ft.
2×81.5" × 7.25"9.67 bd. ft.

Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Sizes

2×4 Nominal
1.5"×3.5" Actual
4×4 Nominal
3.5"×3.5" Actual
1×6 Nominal
0.75"×5.5" Actual

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

Pine
$2-5 per bd. ft.
Oak
$5-8 per bd. ft.
Maple
$6-10 per bd. ft.
Walnut
$10-15 per bd. ft.

Frequently Asked Questions

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