Lumber Calculator
Compute board feet of lumber for any board size and count.
How to use this tool
- Enter nominal thickness, width and length for your board.
- Add how many boards.
- Set price per board foot (optional).
- Calculate total board feet and price.
How it works
Board feet = (thickness in in x width in in x length in ft) / 12. Multiply by count for the total.
Tips
- Use nominal sizes for pricing quoted by the yard.
- Add 10% for waste and defects when framing.
- Convert metric stock to inches (1 m ≈ 3.28 ft) for this trade measure.
Limitations
Board-foot pricing assumes nominal (not actual) dimensions, per lumber industry practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a board foot?
One board foot is 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 in thick (144 cubic inches). Lumber yards price by board feet.
Why does a 2x4 not measure 2x4 inches?
Nominal vs actual: a '2x4' is actually about 1.5 x 3.5 in after planing. Use nominal thickness in these estimates and only adjust if you're restocking exact sizes.
How do I price a stack of boards?
Compute board feet per board, multiply by the count, then by price per board foot.