Board Feet Calculator
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in
ft
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Total Board Feet
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Net Board Feet—
Waste Allowance—
BF per Board
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Net Board Feet
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Total with Waste
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Estimated Cost
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Total Linear Feet
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Cubic Feet (net)
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What Is a Board Foot?
One board foot equals the volume of a piece 1 ft × 1 ft × 1 inch thick — or 144 cubic inches. It is the standard unit for buying and selling hardwood lumber in North America.
Formula
Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) ÷ 12. Multiply by quantity for the full order total. Add 10–15% for waste from end cuts, defects, and mistakes.
Nominal vs. Actual Size
Lumber is sold by nominal dimensions (2×4, 1×6) but its actual dressed size is smaller. A 2×4 is 1.5" × 3.5" and a 1×6 is 0.75" × 5.5". Use the actual dimensions when calculating board feet to get an accurate volume.