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Board Foot Calculator

Last updated: December

Board Foot Calculator. How To Calculate Board Foot
Board Foot Calculator
Board Foot Calculator
Lumber Dimensions
4/4 (1")
5/4 (1.25")
6/4 (1.5")
8/4 (2")
12/4 (3")
inches
12 in
12 ft
1 board
Cost Calculation
$4.50
Note: One board foot equals a piece of wood 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches).
Board Feet per Board:
12.00 BF
Total Board Feet:
12.00 BF
Total Cost:
$54.00
Equivalent Standard Boards:
12 boards (12"×12"×1")
Board Visualization

Real-time visual representation of your lumber dimensions.

Dimensions:
1" × 12" × 12'
Board Volume:
1728 cu in
Standard Board Foot:
144 cu in
Board Foot Ratio:
12.00
How Board Feet Work

Formula:

Board Feet = (Thickness(in) × Width(in) × Length(ft)) ÷ 12

Quick Examples:

  • 1" × 12" × 12' = 12 board feet
  • 2" × 6" × 8' = 8 board feet
  • 1.5" × 8" × 10' = 10 board feet

Quarter System:

  • 4/4 = 1 inch
  • 5/4 = 1.25 inches
  • 6/4 = 1.5 inches
  • 8/4 = 2 inches
  • 12/4 = 3 inches
Common Lumber Prices

Typical Prices (2024):

  • Pine: $3.50 - $6.50 per BF
  • Oak: $6.00 - $12.00 per BF
  • Maple: $8.00 - $15.00 per BF
  • Cherry: $9.00 - $18.00 per BF
  • Walnut: $12.00 - $25.00 per BF

Prices vary by region, grade, and supplier.

Board Foot Calculator | One board foot = 144 cubic inches | All calculations are estimates for planning purposes.

Understanding Board Feet

📏 What is a Board Foot?

A board foot is the standard unit of measurement for lumber in North America. It represents a volume of wood measuring 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long (144 cubic inches).
Key Concept: Board footage measures volume, not just area or length. Two pieces with the same board footage contain the same amount of wood, even if their dimensions differ.
144
cubic inches
1 Board Foot

Visual Comparison:

  • 1 Board Foot = 12" × 12" × 1" thick
  • Equivalent to: 144 cubic inches of wood
  • Common reference: A board 1 foot square and 1 inch thick
  • Industry standard: Used for pricing hardwoods, rough lumber, and specialty woods





🧮 How to Calculate Board Feet?

The Board Foot Formula:

Board Feet = (Thickness(in) × Width(in) × Length(ft)) ÷ 12
Thickness and Width in inches | Length in feet
Step 1: Convert to Proper Units
  • Ensure thickness is in inches
  • Ensure width is in inches
  • Ensure length is in feet
Step 2: Apply the Formula
  • Multiply: Thickness × Width × Length
  • Divide the result by 12
  • Result is in board feet (BF)
Step 3: Multiply for Quantity
  • Multiply board feet per board by quantity
  • This gives total board footage needed

Calculation Examples:

Example 1: Standard Board
Board: 1" × 6" × 8'
Calculation: (1 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 = 4 BF
A 1-inch thick, 6-inch wide, 8-foot long board equals 4 board feet.
Example 2: Thicker Stock
Board: 2" × 8" × 10'
Calculation: (2 × 8 × 10) ÷ 12 = 13.33 BF
2-inch thick (8/4), 8-inch wide, 10-foot long board equals 13.33 board feet.
Example 3: Multiple Boards
5 boards: 1.5" × 10" × 6' each
Calculation: [(1.5 × 10 × 6) ÷ 12] × 5 = 37.5 BF
Five 1.5-inch thick boards (6/4) equals 37.5 total board feet.





🛠️ Using the Calculator: Step-by-Step Example

Let's walk through calculating board feet for a common project: building a bookshelf that requires 4 boards of 5/4 oak, 8 inches wide and 6 feet long.

Project Requirements
4
boards needed
Thickness: 5/4 (1.25")
Width: 8 inches
Length: 6 feet
Wood: Oak ($8/BF)
Calculator Steps:
  1. Select 5/4 (1.25") thickness option
  2. Enter 8 in the Width field (ensure inches is selected)
  3. Enter 6 in the Length field (ensure feet is selected)
  4. Enter 4 in the Number of Boards field
  5. Set price to $8.00 per board foot
  6. Results show automatically: 20 BF total, $160 cost
Manual Calculation Check:
(1.25 × 8 × 6) ÷ 12 = 5 BF per board
5 BF × 4 boards = 20 total BF
20 BF × $8/BF = $160 total cost
💡 Pro Tip: Use the sliders to quickly experiment with different dimensions. Try adjusting the thickness from 5/4 to 4/4 and see how the board footage and cost change in real-time.





📊 How Many Board Feet Are In...?

Common lumber sizes and their board footage equivalents per board. Multiply by quantity for total board feet.

Thickness Width Length Board Feet Common Use
4/4 (1") 6" 8' 4 BF Shelving, furniture
4/4 (1") 8" 10' 6.67 BF Table tops, panels
5/4 (1.25") 6" 8' 5 BF Decking, benches
6/4 (1.5") 8" 6' 6 BF Table legs, turning
8/4 (2") 10" 8' 13.33 BF Carving, heavy furniture
8/4 (2") 12" 12' 24 BF Slabs, mantels
12/4 (3") 8" 6' 12 BF Thick table tops
📈 Quick Reference: To estimate board feet in your head: For 1-inch thick lumber, each square foot of surface area equals 1 board foot. So a 1"×12"×1' board = 1 BF, a 1"×6"×2' board = 1 BF, etc.





🔢 Understanding the Quarter System

4/4
= 1 inch
Most common thickness for furniture
5/4
= 1.25 inches
Decking, outdoor projects
8/4
= 2 inches
Table tops, heavy construction
12/4
= 3 inches
Carving blanks, thick slabs
How the Quarter System Works: The number before "/4" represents how many quarters of an inch thick the lumber is. So "8/4" means 8 quarters of an inch, which is 2 inches (8 ÷ 4 = 2).

Accuracy Note: This calculator provides estimates for planning and budgeting. Actual lumber dimensions may vary slightly due to milling, moisture content, and planing. Always verify with your supplier before purchasing.

Board foot calculations assume rough or surfaced lumber. Finished dimensions will be slightly smaller after planing.

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