Board Feet Calculator
Calculate board footage for any lumber size. Enter your dimensions below to get instant results with optional cost estimation.
Results
Board feet per piece
8.00
Total board feet
8.00
Formula: Board Feet = (Thickness x Width x Length) / 12 = (2 x 6 x 8) / 12 = 8.00 BF
Need to plan a full deck or structure?
Design your deck in 3DFrequently Asked Questions
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of lumber volume equal to 144 cubic inches, or a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. It is the standard unit for pricing hardwood lumber in the US.
How do you calculate board feet?
Board feet = (Thickness in inches x Width in inches x Length in feet) / 12. For example, a 2x6x8 board is (2 x 6 x 8) / 12 = 8 board feet.
How many board feet in a 2x4x8?
A standard 2x4x8 contains (2 x 4 x 8) / 12 = 5.33 board feet. Note that nominal 2x4 lumber actually measures 1.5 x 3.5 inches, so actual board footage using real dimensions would be (1.5 x 3.5 x 8) / 12 = 3.5 board feet.
What is the average price per board foot?
Prices vary by species: common softwoods like SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) run $2-5 per board foot, while hardwoods range from $4-8 for oak/maple to $15+ for walnut or cherry. Exotic hardwoods can exceed $25 per board foot.