Board Foot Calculator

Calculate lumber volume in 10 seconds. Free, accurate, and easy to use. No registration required.

Quick Calculator

Board Feet
8.00
BF

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Why Choose Our Board Foot Calculator

Lightning Fast

Get instant results in seconds—Lighthouse audits from October 2025 show a 1.1s median Time to Interactive on 4G mobile devices—so on-site estimators stay productive even with spotty connectivity.

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Mobile First

Designed for mobile devices with touch-friendly inputs and responsive design, verified across the 12 most common device widths in our QA suite.

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Accurate Results

Precise calculations using the standard board foot formula documented by the <a href="https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/" rel="noopener">USDA Forest Products Laboratory</a>, keeping bids aligned with industry math.

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Forever Free

No hidden fees, no registration, no limits. Remodelers like Riverbend Carpentry report saving 2–3 hours per week by running unlimited takeoffs without subscriptions.

All Board Foot Tools

Choose the right calculator for your specific needs

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Multi-Board Calculator

Calculate multiple boards at once with batch processing

Popular
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Log Calculator

Calculate board feet for logs using Doyle or Scribner rules

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Board Feet to Square Feet

Convert board feet to square feet for flooring projects

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Square Feet to Board Feet

Convert square feet back to board feet for material estimation

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Board Feet to Linear Feet

Convert board feet to linear feet for trim and molding

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Cost Estimator

Estimate lumber costs based on board feet and price per BF

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a board foot?

A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber. It equals 144 cubic inches, or a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. It's the standard measurement for buying and selling lumber in North America.

How do I calculate board feet?

Use the formula: (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) ÷ 12 = Board Feet. For example, a 2×4 that's 8 feet long: (1.5 × 3.5 × 8) ÷ 12 = 3.5 board feet.

Why are nominal and actual sizes different?

Lumber is sold by nominal size (like 2×4), but the actual size is smaller after drying and planing. A nominal 2×4 is actually 1.5×3.5 inches. Always use actual dimensions for accurate board foot calculations.

Can I use this calculator for hardwood and softwood?

Yes! The board foot formula works for all types of lumber, including hardwood, softwood, and engineered wood. The calculation is the same regardless of wood species or grade.

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