Board Foot Calculator

A board foot calculator is a device mainly used in the woodworking and lumber industries. It measures and estimates the volume of wood, and it is easier to work with consistent units when estimating the required wood for a job. Whether you’re purchasing wood for building, repairing, or crafting, For precision in your project planning, getting timber volume takeoff can help refine your wood requirements, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

Knowing how to calculate board feet accurately will ensure you buy the correct material. Both lumber suppliers and woodworkers widely use the measurement to calculate the amount of timber required to finish a project, or the total volume of lumber in a piece. The unit board foot, shortened as BF, is a volume measurement equivalent to 1 inch in thickness and 12 inches each in width and length

Calculation Process

You must know the board’s length, width, and thickness to calculate board feet. The basic formula for calculating board feet is

• Board feet = length x width x thickness / 144

Measure the Dimension

Calculate the board length in feet, width in inches, and thickness in inches.

For example, let’s say you have a board with the following specifications:

• Thickness: 2 inches
• Width: 10 inches
• Length: 12 inches

Now, input the values in the equation:

• Board feet = 2in x 10 in x 12 ft / 12
• 160/ 12 = 13.33 board feet

Multiple Board Calculation

Suppose you have 5 boards of lumber with the following measurements:

• Length: 6 feet   
• Width: 8 inches
• Thickness: 1 inch

Convert the length to inches:

• Length in inches = 6 feet x 12 = 72 inches

Then, multiply the length, width, and thickness:

• 72 inches x 8 inches x 1 inches = 567 cubic inches per piece

Divide by 144 to convert cubic inches to board feet for each piece:

• 567 cubic inches / 144 = 4 board feet per piece

Multiply the number of pieces by the board feet per piece:

• 4 board feet x 5 = 20 board feet

Calculate the Large Piece of Lumber

Calculate the board feet for a longer length of lumber with the dimensions of:

• Length: 10 ft
• Width: 12 in
• Thickness: 2 in

Converting length to inches: 

• 10 ft x 12 = 120 in

Then multiply length, width, and thickness: 

• 120 in x 12 in x 2 in = 2,880 cubic inches.

Convert cubic inches to board feet:

• 2,880 cubic in / 144 = 20 board feet of lumber.

Lumber Size and Their Board Feet per linear Foot 

This table provides an overview of lumber sizes and their board feet per lineal foot. Board feet is a unit of measurement commonly used in the lumber industry.

Lumber Size	Board Feet per Linear Foot
1×4	0.0333
1×6	0.05
2×4	0.0833
2×6	0.125
2×8	0.1667
4×4	0.3333
4×6	0.5

Frequently Asked Question

Q: Can I Use the Board Foot Calculator for Plywood and Other Sheet Goods?

You can use it for your plywood, although plywood commonly comes in sheet form, 4 feet by 8 feet. For plywood, you would determine board feet based on the sheet’s thickness and the number of sheets needed for your project.

Q: Can I Apply the Board Foot Calculator to Recycled Wood or Reclaimed Lumber?

For reclaimed lumber, measure the dimensions of each piece and apply the board-foot formula. Remember that reclaimed wood could be thinner or warped, so the actual usable volume would be less than the calculated board feet.

Q: How Does the Board Foot Measurement Differ from Linear Feet?

A linear foot refers only to the length of the lumber, whereas a board foot is a volume measure—board feet factor in the lumber’s width and thickness in addition to its size.