This board foot calculator allows you to quickly estimate the volume of hardwood lumber you want to buy. If you're unsure how to calculate board feet or what a board foot is, scroll down for more in-depth information. Otherwise, simply type the dimensions of a wood piece into this board foot calculator!

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What is a board foot?

Unlike square footage, the board footage measures volume. You use it when purchasing multiple boards of lumber in various sizes.

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By definition, one board foot of lumber is one square foot that is one-inch thick. If you would like to convert regular volume units into board feet, use the following relation:

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• 1 board foot = 144 cubic inches = 1/12 cubic foot

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How to calculate board feet?

Surprisingly, the calculations are extremely easy! All you need to do is use the board foot formula below:

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• board feet = length(ft) × width(in) × thickness(in) / 12

 

Pay special attention to the units! The length of the wooden board should be expressed in feet, while the width and thickness – in inches.

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Using the lumber calculator: an example

Let's assume you want to use this board foot calculator to determine how much you should pay for a few hardwood pieces.

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Decide on the number of pieces you want to purchase. Let's assume it's five wooden boards.

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Choose the dimensions of the boards. For example, a piece of hardwood can be 8 feet long, 10 inches wide, and 1.25 inches thick.

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Substitute these numbers into the board foot formula to find the board footage per piece:

• board feet = length(ft) × width(in) × thickness(in) / 12

• board feet = 8 × 10 × 1.25 / 12

• board feet = 8.33 BF

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Now, multiply this result by the number of pieces to obtain the total board footage of your purchase:

• 5 × 8.33 = 41.67 BF

 

Finally, you can multiply this value by the price per board foot to determine the total cost of your purchase. Assuming one board foot of lumber costs $4.15, then:

• cost = 41.67 × $4.15 = $172.92