Board Foot Calculator
Calculate board feet for lumber instantly. Enter length in feet, width and thickness in inches to get board footage, cubic feet volume, and total cost with charts.
About This Calculator
The Board Foot Calculator is a specialized lumber volume estimator designed for woodworkers, contractors, carpenters, DIY enthusiasts, and anyone who needs to calculate the volume of hardwood lumber in board feet. Whether you're pricing a project, estimating material needs, or comparing lumber costs, this tool provides instant, accurate results.
A board foot is the standard unit of volume measurement for lumber in the United States and Canada. One board foot is defined as a volume of 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches). The formula used is: Board Feet = Length (ft) × Width (in) × Thickness (in) ÷ 12. For example, a single 8-foot board that is 6 inches wide and 1 inch thick contains exactly 4 board feet. The calculator multiplies the board feet per board by the quantity entered to give you the total board footage, then optionally multiplies by the price per board foot to show the total cost.
Regional Notes
United States: Board foot is the standard lumber measurement used across the country. Lumber yards and home improvement stores price hardwood by the board foot. Softwood lumber like dimensional lumber (2x4s, 2x6s) is typically sold by linear foot but can also be quoted in board feet.
Canada: Uses the same board foot system as the US for lumber volume. Pricing and measurement practices mirror US standards.
India and UK: Lumber is typically sold by cubic foot (CFT) or cubic meter rather than board feet. One board foot equals 1/12 of a cubic foot. To convert board feet to cubic feet, divide by 12. The calculator includes cubic feet volume alongside board footage for convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber, defined as a piece of wood that is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches or 1/12 of a cubic foot. It is the standard measurement for lumber in the United States and Canada.
How do you calculate board feet?
Board feet are calculated using the formula: board feet = length (ft) × width (in) × thickness (in) ÷ 12. For example, an 8-foot long board that is 6 inches wide and 1 inch thick equals 8 × 6 × 1 ÷ 12 = 4 board feet.
What is the difference between a board foot and a linear foot?
A board foot measures volume (length × width × thickness), while a linear foot measures only length. A board foot is 1 foot × 1 foot × 1 inch, whereas a linear foot is simply 12 inches in length regardless of width or thickness.
How many board feet are in a 2x4?
An 8-foot 2x4 contains approximately 5.33 board feet. This is calculated as 8 ft (length) × 1.5 in (actual width) × 3.5 in (actual thickness) ÷ 12 = 5.33 BF. Note that a nominal 2x4 has actual dimensions of 1.5 by 3.5 inches.
How much does a board foot of oak weigh?
A board foot of oak weighs between 3.08 and 4.67 pounds (1.42 to 2.12 kg), depending on the variety and growing conditions. On average, one board foot of oak weighs approximately 3.875 pounds (1.77 kg).
Do I need to include the price per board foot?
The price per board foot is optional. If you enter a price, the calculator will show the total cost of your lumber. If left blank, the calculator will still show board footage and volume without cost calculations.
What is the formula for board feet in metric units?
In metric units, board feet can be calculated by first converting all dimensions to inches: length (mm) ÷ 25.4 × width (mm) ÷ 25.4 × thickness (mm) ÷ 25.4 ÷ 144. One board foot equals approximately 2,359.74 cubic centimeters or 0.00236 cubic meters.