Board Foot Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the board foot calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Board Feet (per board)
bf_per_board = thickness * width * length_ft / 12Total Board Feet
total_bf = thickness * width * length_ft / 12 * quantityVariables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
thickness | Thickness(inches) | 2 |
width | Width(inches) | 8 |
length_ft | Length(feet) | 10 |
quantity | Number of Boards | 1 |
How It Works
How to Calculate Board Feet
Formula
Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12
One board foot equals 144 cubic inches of wood. This is the standard measurement for buying and selling hardwood lumber. Thickness and width are in inches, length is in feet.
Worked Example
A single board 2 inches thick, 8 inches wide, 10 feet long.
thickness = 2width = 8length_ft = 10quantity = 1
- 01Board feet = (2 × 8 × 10) / 12 = 160 / 12 = 13.33 BF
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Board Foot Calculator