Measurement basis
Board feet measure wood volume rather than the length of a board or the area it covers. This calculator helps compare a rough-lumber quote with the stock needed for a woodworking project. Enter the thickness and width used by your supplier for billing, then enter the length and number of equal boards. It reports both board feet and cubic volume, plus an optional material price. For a mixed order, calculate each size separately and add the totals. Confirm whether your supplier bills rough dimensions, surfaced dimensions, or a tally rounded to its own selling rules.
Geometry, units and worked example
A worked example
Ten boards billed at 1 in × 6 in × 8 ft contain 40 board feet. At $5 per board foot, the lumber subtotal is $200.
Enter consistent dimensions
- Check the dimensions used on the lumber quote.
- Enter the count of boards with the same dimensions.
- Apply the quoted price per board foot and repeat for other sizes.
Where the model stops
- A board foot is a volume of 144 cubic inches; it is not a square foot of finished coverage.
- Milling, end checking, and defects reduce usable yield. Purchase extra stock according to the actual cutting plan.
- A seller may tally length or width in prescribed increments, so a bill can differ from exact geometry.
Frequently asked questions
How many board feet are in a 1 × 6 × 8 board?
At those exact billed dimensions, one board contains 4 board feet: 1 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12.
Can I use this for hardwood sold as 4/4?
Yes. Enter 1 inch if the supplier bills 4/4 stock as a 1 inch thickness. Confirm its tally method.
Is board-foot pricing the same as linear-foot pricing?
No. Board-foot pricing changes with cross-sectional area; linear-foot pricing charges for length of a specified product.
Read the project guides
- Board Feet vs Linear Feet: How to Read a Lumber Quote
Understand board-foot volume, linear-foot length, actual lumber dimensions, effective coverage, and what each price unit means for a project.
Calculation method: JICWH methodology. Examples are planning assumptions, not product recommendations.