Board Foot Calculator
Board feet for one board or a whole cut list: thickness and width in inches, length in feet, with linear feet, cubic feet and cost when you buy hardwood by the board foot.
Board feet = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12. One board foot is 1 in × 12 in × 1 ft (144 cubic inches). A 1 × 6 that is 8 ft long is 4 board feet; a 2 × 4 × 8 is 5.33. Hardwood uses quarters: 4/4 = 1 in, 8/4 = 2 in.
Board feet in common lumber sizes
Nominal sizes, as lumber yards calculate board feet.
| Board | Board feet |
|---|---|
| 1 × 4 × 8 ft | 2.67 |
| 1 × 6 × 8 ft | 4.00 |
| 1 × 8 × 8 ft | 5.33 |
| 1 × 12 × 8 ft | 8.00 |
| 2 × 4 × 8 ft | 5.33 |
| 2 × 6 × 8 ft | 8.00 |
| 2 × 8 × 12 ft | 16.00 |
| 2 × 10 × 12 ft | 20.00 |
| 2 × 12 × 16 ft | 32.00 |
| 4 × 4 × 8 ft | 10.67 |
| 6 × 6 × 8 ft | 24.00 |
Hardwood thickness (quarter system)
| Quarters | Rough thickness | Typical surfaced |
|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 1 in | ¾–13/16 in |
| 5/4 | 1¼ in | 1–1 1/16 in |
| 6/4 | 1½ in | 1¼ in |
| 8/4 | 2 in | 1¾ in |
| 12/4 | 3 in | 2¾ in |
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate board feet?
Multiply thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet, then divide by 12. If the length is in inches, divide by 144 instead. Multiply by the number of boards for a total.
How many board feet is a 2 × 4 × 8?
5.33 board feet: 2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12. Board feet use nominal dimensions for softwood lumber, even though a 2 × 4 actually measures 1½ × 3½ in.
What is a board foot?
A volume of wood equal to a board 1 in thick, 12 in wide and 1 ft long (144 cubic inches). 12 board feet equal one cubic foot.
What is the difference between board feet and linear feet?
Linear feet measure length only; board feet measure volume. A 1 × 6 board 10 ft long is 10 linear feet but 5 board feet.
How do I price hardwood by the board foot?
Hardwood yards price rough lumber per board foot by species and grade. Add up the board feet of your cut list, add 20–30% for defects and milling waste, and multiply by the price.
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Board foot definition: 144 cubic inches (1 in × 12 in × 12 in). Softwood dimension lumber is calculated on nominal size; hardwood on rough quarter thickness. Surfaced thicknesses are typical for S2S hardwood.