A Board Foot Calculator is a practical and essential tool used to calculate the volume of lumber or wood boards. Whether you are a carpenter, contractor, furniture maker, or DIY enthusiast, knowing how many board feet of wood you need helps you estimate costs, avoid waste, and plan projects efficiently.

Wood suppliers and lumber yards typically sell hardwood and softwood by the board foot, making this calculation critical for construction, woodworking, and renovation projects.

What Is a Board Foot?

A board foot is a unit of volume used to measure lumber in the United States and Canada.

1 Board Foot Equals

• 12 inches long
• 12 inches wide
• 1 inch thick

In simple terms:

1 Board Foot = 144 cubic inches

What Is a Board Foot Calculator?

A board foot calculator is an online tool that calculates the total board feet of lumber using:

• Thickness
• Width
• Length

Instead of doing manual math, the calculator instantly provides accurate results, making it especially useful when working with multiple boards or large projects.

Board Foot Formula

The standard formula used in every board foot calculator is:

Board Foot Formula

[
\text{Board Feet} = \frac{\text{Thickness (in)} \times \text{Width (in)} \times \text{Length (in)}}{144}
]

Board Foot Calculation Example

Board Dimensions:

• Thickness: 2 inches
• Width: 8 inches
• Length: 10 feet (120 inches)

Calculation:
[
\frac{2 \times 8 \times 120}{144} = 13.33 \text{ board feet}
]

Result:
This single board contains 13.33 board feet of lumber.

Board Foot Calculator for Multiple Boards

When calculating multiple boards, simply multiply the result by the number of boards.

Example:

• One board = 13.33 board feet
• Number of boards = 5

[
13.33 \times 5 = 66.65 \text{ board feet}
]

Common Lumber Sizes and Board Feet Table

Thickness (in)	Width (in)	Length (ft)	Board Feet
1	6	8	4.00
1	12	10	8.33
2	8	10	13.33
2	12	12	24.00
4	6	8	16.00

This table helps quickly estimate lumber volume without recalculating each time.

Why Use a Board Foot Calculator?

Using a board foot calculator provides several advantages:

• ✔ Accurate lumber measurement
• ✔ Saves time and effort
• ✔ Helps estimate wood costs
• ✔ Reduces material waste
• ✔ Ideal for mobile and on-site use

It is especially helpful when buying expensive hardwoods such as oak, maple, walnut, or teak.

How Lumber Is Sold by Board Feet

Most hardwoods are sold based on:

• Board feet × price per board foot

Cost Calculation Example

Board Feet	Price per BF	Total Cost
25	$5.50	$137.50
40	$7.00	$280.00
60	$4.25	$255.00

A board foot calculator allows you to estimate total project cost instantly.

Rough Lumber vs Planed Lumber

Type	Description
Rough Lumber	Unfinished, measured before planing
Planed Lumber	Smoothed lumber, slightly smaller

👉 Tip: Lumber yards usually calculate board feet before planing, so always confirm measurements.

Board Foot vs Linear Foot

Unit	Measures
Board Foot	Volume
Linear Foot	Length only

A linear foot ignores width and thickness, while a board foot accounts for total wood volume.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to convert feet to inches
• Mixing actual size with nominal size
• Ignoring wood waste and defects
• Not rounding up board feet

Professionals recommend ordering 10–15% extra lumber.

Who Should Use a Board Foot Calculator?

• Woodworkers
• Furniture makers
• Carpenters
• Contractors
• Builders
• DIY homeowners

From small craft projects to large construction jobs, this calculator ensures precision.

Board Foot Conversion Table

Measurement	Equivalent
1 Board Foot	144 cubic inches
1 Board Foot	0.0833 cubic feet
12 Board Feet	1 cubic foot

A Board Foot Calculator is an indispensable tool for anyone working with lumber. By using a simple formula and accurate measurements, you can calculate board feet quickly, estimate costs precisely, and reduce waste.

Whether you’re buying hardwood for furniture or softwood for framing, a board foot calculator helps you plan smarter and build better.