Board Feet Calculator
Enter your lumber dimensions to calculate board feet and estimate material cost. Board feet is the standard volume measurement for hardwood lumber: BF = (Thickness x Width x Length) / 144.
Lumber
Total
Total board feet
20.00 BF
Estimated cost
$130.00
at $6.5/BF
Working with sheet goods or boards? Sawvy optimizes plywood, MDF, melamine, and lumber layouts to minimize waste.
Try Sawvy FreeWhat is a board foot?
A board foot (BF) is the standard unit of volume for measuring hardwood lumber in the United States and Canada. One board foot equals a piece of wood that is 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long — or 144 cubic inches total.
The formula is straightforward: Board Feet = (Thickness in inches x Width in inches x Length in inches) / 144. For example, a 1" thick, 8" wide, 6' (72") long board is (1 x 8 x 72) / 144 = 4 board feet.
Lumber yards typically price hardwood by the board foot. Prices vary widely by species: soft maple might be $4-6/BF, while walnut can run $8-14/BF. Knowing your total board footage before you go to the yard helps you budget accurately and avoid overspending.
Note that board feet measure rough lumber. If you're working with sheet goods (plywood, MDF), those are sold by the sheet and measured in square feet. For sheet goods optimization, try the plywood waste calculator or the full Sawvy optimizer.
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