Free Lumber Calculator

Calculate total board feet and piece counts for lumber orders. Enter the dimensions and quantity of boards needed.

inches
inches
feet
USD

Total Board Feet

240.00 BF

Board Feet per Piece12.00 BF
Total Linear Feet240 lin ft
Estimated Cost$1,200.00

Total Board Feet vs Thickness (nominal)

How to Calculate Lumber

Board Foot Formula

Board Feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) / 12

Thickness and width are in inches (nominal), length is in feet. One board foot is a piece 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long (or 144 cubic inches). Hardwood lumber is priced by the board foot, while dimensional softwood lumber is often priced per linear foot or per piece.

Example Calculation

20 pieces of 2×6 lumber, 12 ft long, at $5 per board foot.

  1. 01Board feet per piece = (2 × 6 × 12) / 12 = 12 BF
  2. 02Total board feet = 12 × 20 = 240 BF
  3. 03Total linear feet = 12 × 20 = 240 lin ft
  4. 04Cost = 240 × $5 = $1,200.00

Frequently Asked Questions

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