What it calculates
Calculate board feet for dimensional lumber.
Lumber / Board Feet Calculator
Calculate board feet for dimensional lumber.
Planning and estimating aid only. Verify project requirements, manufacturer instructions, adopted codes, permits, and field conditions before performing regulated work.
Construction estimating
How to Use This Calculator
Use the field units shown below, then compare your result with the worked example. Thickness and width are inches; length is feet.
How the calculation works
Board feet = thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet ÷ 12 × quantity.
What the result means
Board-foot measurement is a volume measure and differs from linear feet.
Calculate a board-foot purchase quantity
Using entered dimensions of 2 inches × 6 inches × 8 feet, one piece is 2 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12 = 8 board feet. Ten pieces total 80 board feet.
Contractor tip: Thickness and width are inches; length is feet. Do not divide the length by 12 again. Grading, stock lengths and structural suitability are separate from this volume calculation.
Verify the final quantity
Board feet measure lumber volume, not linear footage or the number of pieces. Enter the dimension basis used by the supplier. Nominal and actual dimensions can produce different volumes.
Good practice: Compare the calculated quantity with plans, specifications, product packaging and current field conditions before purchasing material.