Calculate the board footage and cost of lumber. Enter the number of pieces, thickness, width, and length for each board type.
| # | Pieces | Thick (in) | Width (in) | Length (ft) | BF/Piece | Total BF | Cost |
|---|
A board foot calculator is a tool used to measure the amount of wood in a board. A single board foot equals 144 cubic inches of wood.
This size is based on a board that is:
When these numbers are multiplied together they equal 144 cubic inches of wood which is called one board foot.
When people buy hardwood lumber for woodworking or building projects it can be hard to know how much wood they really need. This is where a board foot calculator becomes very helpful. A board foot calculator helps woodworkers, carpenters and builders quickly calculate the amount of lumber they need before buying it.
In this guide, you will learn what a board foot calculator is, how the calculation works and how it helps you measure wood correctly for projects like furniture, cabinets and decks.
Lumber yards often use board feet when selling hardwood. This is because wood boards come in many different widths and thicknesses.
Measuring wood in board feet gives a standard way to measure the volume of lumber and calculate its price.
Unlike square feet which measure only surface area board feet measure volume. This means the thickness of the wood is also included in the measurement.
For example:
Because boards come in many different sizes calculating board feet by hand can become confusing especially when working with many boards.
That is why many builders use a board foot calculator to make the process much easier.
Hardwood boards usually do not come in the same size. One board might be 6 inches wide while another might be 10 inches wide.
If lumber were sold only by length, it would be hard for customers to compare prices. The board foot system solves this problem by measuring the total volume of wood no matter what shape or width the board has.
This method is commonly used for:
Using a board foot calculator helps make sure you are paying for the correct amount of wood and not spending too much money.
The formula used to calculate board feet is very easy.
Board Feet = Width (inches) × Length (inches) × Thickness (inches) ÷ 144
The number 144 is used because one board foot equals 144 cubic inches of wood.
Another common formula uses feet for length:
Board Feet = Length (feet) × Width (inches) × Thickness (inches) ÷ 12
Both formulas give the same answer.
A board foot calculator simply performs this math automatically so you do not have to calculate it yourself every time.
A board foot calculator needs only a few simple measurements
Most calculators ask for the following information.
This is how thick the board is. Hardwood lumber is often measured in quarters such as:
This is the width of the board.
This is the total length of the board.
This means how many boards you are buying.
After entering this information, the board foot calculator shows two results:
This makes it easy to estimate how much lumber is needed for a project.
Imagine you want to buy five boards for a woodworking project.
Each board has these measurements:
Using the formula:
Board Feet = Length × Width × Thickness ÷ 12
Board Feet = 8 × 10 × 1.25 ÷ 12
The result is 8.33 board feet for one board
If you buy 5 boards the total will be:
A board foot calculator can complete this calculation instantly.
Many builders like to know the approximate board feet for common lumber sizes for one foot of length.
Lumber Size | |
1 × 4 | 0.333 |
1 × 6 | 0.5 |
1 × 8 | 0.66 |
1 × 10 | 0.833 |
1 × 12 | 1 |
2 × 10 | 1.667 |
2 × 12 | 2 |
2 × 4 | 0.667 |
Even with these estimates using a board foot calculator is still the best and most accurate way to measure lumber volume.
When calculating board feet, there are some important rules used in the lumber industry.
Hardwood thickness is often shown in quarters of an inch:
These measurements usually describe rough-cut lumber, not the final finished thickness.
A board foot calculator is important while buying hardwood lumber. Since timber forums are available in exceptional sizes and thicknesses, measuring them via quantity helps create a truthful and consistent pricing machine.
By using a board foot calculator, you may quickly discover how much lumber you need for projects like furniture, shelves, decks or indoor woodwork. The calculator gets rid of the need for manual calculations and helps you plan substances with greater accuracy.
Whether you are an expert carpenter or a person new to woodworking, learning about board feet can save time, reduce waste and assist in estimating task prices more effortlessly. With a terrific board foot calculator, measuring lumber becomes easy, short and accurate.