Board Foot Calculator

A board foot is a specialized unit of volume used for measuring lumber in the United States and Canada. It is defined as a piece of wood 12 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches).

The formula is: (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12. Alternatively, if all dimensions are in inches: (Thickness × Width × Length) / 144.

No. Square feet measure two-dimensional area (length × width). Board feet measure three-dimensional volume (length × width × thickness).

Hardwoods are often sold rough-sawn in random widths and lengths to maximize the yield from a tree. Because dimensions vary wildly from board to board, selling by volume (board foot) is the only fair and consistent method.

Nominal size is the dimension of the rough lumber before it is planed and surfaced (e.g., a 2x4). Actual size is the final dimension after surfacing (e.g., 1.5 x 3.5 inches). Board footage is usually calculated based on the nominal size.

Once you have the total board footage, multiply it by the price per board foot. For example, a board that is 5 board feet priced at $4.00/bf will cost $20.00.