Board Foot Calculator

Board-foot formula

One board foot represents a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. For lumber measured in inches of thickness and width and feet of length, board feet = thickness × width × length ÷ 12.

When board feet are used

Hardwood dealers and sawmills commonly price rough lumber by board foot. Construction lumber is more often sold by the piece, so this calculator is most useful when the supplier quotes a board-foot price.

Before buying

Allow for defects, trimming, milling, grain selection, and project waste. Nominal and actual dimensions can differ, so use the dimensions your supplier uses for pricing.