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Board Foot Calculator

Calculate board feet for one board or a complete lumber list in US or metric dimensions, including waste allowance and cost.

Single board — US units

ExampleSample values — edit any field to see your result.

in
in
ft

Results update as you type.

Board feet to buy

44.00BF

Estimated result

Calculated board feet
40.000BF
Total boards
6
Lumber volume
3.333ft³
Lumber volume
0.0944m³

Board-foot breakdown

Board sizeQtyBoard feet
1" × 8" × 10'640.00
Board feet to buy44.00 BF

Calculate board footage for a single board in US or metric dimensions, or paste a complete lumber list. Add a waste allowance and price per board foot for an order and cost estimate.

Formula

board feet = thickness(in) × width(in) × length(ft) × quantity ÷ 12

One board foot is 144 cubic inches, 1/12 cubic foot, or exactly 0.002359737216 cubic metres.

Board-foot pricing conventions vary. Confirm whether your supplier charges from rough, nominal, or surfaced dimensions.

Examples

Six 1 × 8 × 10 boards

Each board contains 6.667 BF, so the six boards contain 40 BF. With 10% waste, plan for 44 BF.

Mixed lumber list

Six 1 × 8 × 10 boards plus two 2 × 6 × 8 boards total 56 BF, or 61.6 BF after a 10% allowance.

Frequently asked questions

What is a board foot?
A board foot is a lumber volume equal to a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. It equals 144 cubic inches or approximately 0.002359737 cubic metres.
What is the board-foot formula?
Multiply thickness in inches by width in inches by length in feet, then divide by 12. Multiply by quantity for several identical boards.
Should I use nominal or actual lumber dimensions?
Hardwood is commonly priced from rough dimensions, while dimension lumber may be described by nominal sizes that differ from finished measurements. Use the dimensions your seller applies to pricing.
How do I enter multiple lumber sizes?
Put one size on each line as thickness inches × width inches × length feet × quantity, for example 1 x 8 x 10 x 6.
How much waste should I add?
Ten percent is a common planning allowance. Increase it for defects, knots, grain matching, difficult cuts, or projects that require selecting clear sections from rough boards.

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