✦ SOLVORY FREE ONLINE TOOLS · HOME & DIY
Board Feet Calculator — Free Online Tool
Convert lumber thickness, width, length and board quantity into total board feet. Include optional waste percentage and price per board foot.
How to use the Board Feet Calculator
Convert lumber thickness, width, length and board quantity into total board feet. Include optional waste percentage and price per board foot.
- Enter lumber thickness and width in inches.
- Select feet, inches or meters for board length.
- Enter number of boards and any material waste percentage.
- Check board feet per board, project total and estimated cost.
Accuracy note: Board-foot pricing often uses rough or nominal sizes depending on supplier; follow the seller’s measurement convention.
Board Feet Calculator formula and method
Board feet (BF) per board = thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet ÷ 12.
All numeric results depend on entered measurements, dimensions and settings. Intermediate calculations retain decimal precision; displayed results may be rounded. Verify material specifications, relevant laws and seller fee conditions where applicable.
Worked example
A 2-inch-thick, 6-inch-wide and 8-foot-long board contains 2 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12 = 8 board feet. Ten boards contain 80 board feet before waste.
Adjust the values in the interactive tool above to reproduce this example or model your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is one board foot?
One board foot equals 144 cubic inches of lumber—equivalent to a piece 12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inch.
Are nominal and actual lumber dimensions the same?
No. Finished dimensional lumber may have actual thickness and width smaller than nominal dimensions.
How do I calculate board feet from length in inches?
Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12 before applying the formula.