A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber in the United States and Canada. It is the volume of a one-foot length of a board one foot wide and one inch thick.
Formula: (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 12 = Board Feet
The Board Feet Calculator is a simple tool used to calculate the volume of lumber in board feet. This is a standard unit of measure in woodworking and construction when buying or selling wood.
What is a Board Foot?
A board foot is a volume measurement for lumber. One board foot equals the volume of a one-foot length of board that is 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
Board Feet Formula
Board Feet = (Thickness [in] × Width [in] × Length [ft]) ÷ 12
Thickness = 2 inches
Width = 6 inches
Length = 10 feet
Board Feet = (2 × 6 × 10) ÷ 12 = 10 board feet
Why Use a Board Feet Calculator?
- Helps estimate total lumber volume for projects
- Prevents buying too much or too little wood
- Used in both commercial and DIY woodworking
- Improves budgeting and material planning
Common Uses
- Buying lumber for construction or cabinetry
- Estimating project needs in board feet
- Pricing lumber accurately
- Mill and sawmill inventory tracking
Quick Tips
- Always measure in inches for thickness and width, and in feet for length.
- Multiply by the number of identical boards to get total board feet.
- For rough-cut lumber, always round up to account for trimming.
Conclusion
Our Board Feet Calculator is a quick and accurate way to calculate lumber volume. Whether you're building a deck or crafting furniture, knowing your board feet helps you buy the right amount of wood without waste.