Board Foot Calculator
The Unit That Actually Matches How Lumber Is Priced
Hardwood lumber isn't priced by the linear foot the way construction lumber often is — it's priced by the board foot, a volume measurement equal to a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. Any other dimensions convert to an equivalent board-foot volume, which is the number that actually matters when comparing prices or ordering from a hardwood supplier.
The Formula
Board Feet (per board) = (Thickness(in) × Width(in) × Length(ft)) ÷ 12
Total Board Feet = Board Feet per Board × Quantity
Total Board Feet = Board Feet per Board × Quantity
Worked Example
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Board feet per board | 4.0 bd ft |
| Quantity | 10 boards |
| Total board feet | 40.0 bd ft |
Because board feet is a volume measure, a thicker board of the same width and length contains proportionally more board feet — doubling thickness from 1″ to 2″ doubles the board-foot count for the same length and width.
Where This Matters
- Getting an accurate quote from a hardwood dealer — most hardwood suppliers price per board foot, so converting your project's dimensions to board feet is necessary before you can compare their quote against your budget.
- Ordering the right quantity — miscalculating board feet on a large order either leaves you short mid-project or with an expensive surplus of hardwood.
- Comparing rough-sawn versus surfaced lumber pricing — rough lumber is typically sold and measured by its nominal (pre-planing) thickness, so board-foot calculations should use the nominal dimension, not the final surfaced thickness.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Thickness in inches.
- Enter the Width in inches.
- Enter the Length in feet.
- Enter the Quantity of Boards.
- Select Calculate to see board feet per board and the total.
Related Calculations
Turn board feet into a dollar cost with the Lumber Cost Calculator, or work out how many pieces a board yields with the Wood Cutting Calculator.