Input Values
Result
This equals 120.00 square feet of 1″ thick lumber.
Interpreting Your Results
Account for Waste
Always purchase 10-15% more lumber than calculated to account for cutting waste, defects, and mistakes. For flooring projects, add 15-20% for pattern matching and end cuts.
Thickness Matters
The thickness parameter is critical for accurate conversion. Using nominal thickness (e.g., 2") vs actual thickness (e.g., 1.5") will give different results. Always verify with your lumber supplier which measurement they use.
Coverage vs Volume
Board feet measures volume (how much wood you have), while square feet measures area (how much surface you can cover). Thicker boards have more volume but cover the same area as thinner boards.
Project Planning
For flooring and decking projects, calculate the area first (length × width), then use this calculator to determine board feet needed. For wall paneling, measure wall area and subtract windows/doors.
Pricing Considerations
Lumber is typically priced per board foot, but your project needs are often measured in square feet of coverage. This calculator bridges that gap for accurate cost estimation.
When to Use This Calculator
This calculator helps you convert between board feet (a volume measurement) and square feet (an area measurement) for lumber. The conversion depends on the thickness of your wood. Use this tool when you need to determine how much area a given amount of board feet will cover, or how many board feet you need to cover a specific area. Unlike the Board Foot Calculator (which calculates volume from dimensions), this tool focuses on area coverage calculations essential for flooring, decking, and wall paneling projects.
Practical Calculation Examples
Example 1: Flooring Project (3/4" Hardwood)
You purchased 50 board feet of 3/4" hardwood flooring. How much floor area can you cover?
Calculation Steps
- Input: 50 board feet, 0.75" thickness
- Context: Nashville-based flooring firm Bluegrass Floors uses this workflow to plan boutique retail build-outs.
- Formula: 50 ÷ (0.75 / 12)
- Calculation: 50 ÷ 0.0625 = 800 sq.ft
Example 2: Deck Planning (2x6 Boards)
You need to cover 200 square feet of deck surface with 2x6 boards (actual thickness 1.5"). How many board feet do you need?
Calculation Steps
- Input: 200 square feet, 1.5" thickness
- Formula: 200 × (1.5 / 12)
- Calculation: 200 × 0.125 = 25 bd.ft
Example 3: Wall Paneling (1" Boards)
You have 100 board feet of 1" thick boards. What wall area can you cover?
Calculation Steps
- Input: 100 board feet, 1" thickness
- Formula: 100 ÷ (1 / 12)
- Calculation: 100 ÷ 0.0833 = 1,200 sq.ft
Example 4: Subflooring (2x8 Boards)
You need 300 square feet of subflooring using 2x8 boards (1.5" thick). How many board feet should you order?
Calculation Steps
- Input: 300 square feet, 1.5" thickness
- Formula: 300 × (1.5 / 12)
- Calculation: 300 × 0.125 = 37.5 bd.ft
How to Use the Calculator
Choose Conversion Direction
Select whether you want to convert from Board Feet to Square Feet or from Square Feet to Board Feet using the toggle buttons at the top.
Enter Your Value
Input the board feet or square feet value you want to convert. The calculator accepts decimal values for precise measurements.
Select Lumber Thickness
Choose the thickness of your lumber from the dropdown menu. Common sizes like 3/4" (1x boards) and 1.5" (2x boards) are pre-configured.
View Results
The calculator instantly displays the converted value along with the calculation formula. Use this information to plan your material purchases.
Why Use Our Board Feet to Square Feet Converter?
Accurate Conversions
Get precise area calculations based on lumber thickness. Our calculator applies the formulas recommended by the <a href="https://awc.org/" rel="noopener">American Wood Council</a> so your takeoffs align with professional estimators.
Two-Way Conversion
Convert from board feet to square feet or square feet to board feet with a single click. Switch directions easily to match your calculation needs.
Thickness Presets
Choose from 8 common lumber thicknesses including 3/4", 1", 1.5", and 2". Save time with quick selection of standard dimensions.
Instant Results
See calculation results in real-time as you adjust inputs. No need to click a calculate button—results update automatically with detailed formula breakdown.
Understanding the Parameters
Board Feet
A unit of volume for lumber, equal to a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long (144 cubic inches). Used for pricing and purchasing lumber.
Square Feet
A measurement of area. Represents the surface area coverage of lumber, regardless of thickness. One square foot equals 144 square inches.
Thickness
The thickness of the lumber board measured in inches. This is the critical parameter that links board feet (volume) to square feet (area). Common thicknesses include 0.75" (1x boards), 1.5" (2x boards), and 2" (nominal 2x boards).
Conversion Formulas
Understanding the formulas helps you verify calculations and plan lumber purchases accurately.
Board Feet to Square Feet
Converts board feet to square feet. Since board feet is volume and square feet is area, we divide by the thickness factor (thickness in inches divided by 12). This gives us the surface area.
SF = BF ÷ (Thickness / 12)
Example: 10 bd.ft ÷ (1" / 12) = 120 sq.ft
Square Feet to Board Feet
Converts square feet to board feet. We multiply the area by the thickness factor to get the volume. The factor of 12 converts between the board foot standard (12-inch length) and actual thickness.
BF = SF × (Thickness / 12)
Example: 100 sq.ft × (1.5" / 12) = 12.5 bd.ft
Frequently Asked Questions
Board feet is a volume measurement (length × width × thickness), while square feet is an area measurement (length × width). To convert between them, you must specify the thickness dimension. Without thickness, the conversion is impossible because the same board footage can represent different areas depending on how thick the boards are. For example, 12 board feet of 1" thick lumber covers 144 square feet, but 12 board feet of 2" thick lumber only covers 72 square feet.
Nominal thickness is the rough-cut size before drying and planing (e.g., 2" for a 2x4), while actual thickness is the finished dimension after processing (e.g., 1.5" for a 2x4). For accurate calculations, use actual thickness. However, some lumber suppliers may use nominal dimensions for board feet calculations, so always verify with your supplier. Our calculator provides both nominal and actual options in the dropdown menu.
Yes! This calculator supports two-way conversion. Simply toggle the conversion direction to 'Square Feet → Board Feet' and enter your square feet value along with the lumber thickness. The calculator will instantly show you the equivalent board feet. This is useful when you know the area you need to cover and want to determine how much lumber to purchase.
For flooring projects, you typically measure the room area in square feet but purchase lumber in board feet. This calculator bridges that gap. Measure your room dimensions (length × width = square feet), select your flooring thickness (commonly 3/4" for hardwood), and convert to board feet to know how much to order. Remember to add 15-20% for waste, pattern matching, and cuts.
This calculator assumes uniform thickness across all boards. If your lumber has varying thickness, you'll need to calculate each thickness separately and sum the results. For example, if you have both 1" and 1.5" thick boards, convert each group separately using the appropriate thickness, then add the square feet totals together.
Because board feet measures volume, not area. A board foot is a fixed volume (144 cubic inches). Thicker boards use more of that volume in the thickness dimension, leaving less for length and width. Think of it this way: a 1" thick board that's 1 board foot covers 12 square feet, but a 2" thick board that's 1 board foot only covers 6 square feet—the extra thickness 'uses up' the volume that would otherwise contribute to area coverage.