What is the difference between 100 linear feet of 2×12 and 100 board feet?

100 linear feet of 2×12 is a length. Converted to volume it's (2 × 12 ÷ 12) × 100 = 200 board feet — twice as much wood as 100 board feet. Linear feet only equal board feet when thickness × width = 12.

What does 1 BF per LF mean?

It means every foot of the board's length contains exactly 1 board foot of wood. Any size whose thickness × width equals 12 — like a 2×6 or a 1×12 — has a factor of 1, so its linear feet and board feet are the same number.

How many board feet are in 100 linear feet of 2×4?

(2 × 4 ÷ 12) × 100 = 66.67 board feet. Each linear foot of 2×4 holds 0.67 board feet.

How many linear feet are in a board?

A board's linear feet is simply its length. A 10 ft 2×6 is 10 linear feet, whatever its size. To get length from board feet instead, divide the board feet by the BF-per-LF factor.

Is lineal feet the same as linear feet?

Yes. Lineal feet is the older trade spelling — the WWPA conversion tables use lineal — but it means exactly the same thing as linear feet.

Should I enter nominal size (2×4) or actual size (1.5×3.5)?

Enter nominal size. Board feet are calculated on nominal dimensions by lumber-trade convention, even though a 2×4 actually measures about 1.5 × 3.5 inches. Hardwood sold by actual measurements is the exception — ask your supplier which they use.

How do I convert board feet back to linear feet?

Flip the formula: Linear Feet = Board Feet × 12 ÷ (Thickness × Width). For that direction, use our board feet to linear feet calculator — it's built for BF → LF.

Why do lumber yards quote prices per linear foot but sell hardwood by the board foot?

Dimensional softwood like 2×4s comes in fixed cross-sections, so pricing by length is simple. Hardwood varies in width and thickness, so it's priced by volume — board feet. To compare the two, convert the quote: $ per BF = $ per LF ÷ the BF-per-LF factor.

Linear Feet to Board Feet Calculator

LF to BF — Free Lumber Conversion

Length (linear feet)

The board's length in linear feet (LF).

Pieces

How many boards of this size. Leave 1 for a single board.

Thickness (inches)

Use nominal inches. Example: 4/4 lumber is about 1 inch.

Width (inches)

Use nominal inches. Example: a 2×4 is entered as width 4.

Quick Size

Tap a common size to auto-fill thickness and width.

Board Feet

5.33 BF

= 0.67 BF per linear foot

Uses nominal dimensions — the lumber-trade convention for board feet. Estimate only; confirm totals with your supplier.

Price ($ per linear foot)

$/LF

Optional. Enter the quoted price per linear foot to estimate total cost.

Estimated total cost

—

Optional. Enter the quoted price per linear foot to estimate total cost.

Convert linear feet to board feet: enter your board's length in linear feet plus its thickness and width in inches. Get board feet instantly — free, no sign-up, works on any phone.

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Need board feet to linear feet instead? Board Feet to Linear Feet Calculator

Working in thousand board feet (MBF)? MBF to Linear Feet Calculator

How to Convert Linear Feet to Board Feet

The formula and a worked example — this is all the math the calculator does.

To convert linear feet to board feet, multiply the board's thickness by its width (both in inches), divide by 12, then multiply by the length in linear feet: Board Feet = (Thickness × Width ÷ 12) × Linear Feet. For an 8 ft 2×4, that's (2 × 4 ÷ 12) × 8 = 5.33 board feet.

Worked example

60 linear feet of 2×6: the 2×6 factor is 2 × 6 ÷ 12 = 1.00 board foot per linear foot, so 60 LF × 1.00 = 60 board feet. Any size whose thickness × width equals 12 converts one-to-one.

Linear Feet vs Board Feet: Length vs Volume

Why you can't convert without the board's cross-section.

A linear foot measures length only — one dimension. A board foot measures volume — thickness × width × length. The same 12 ft board is 12 board feet if it's 12 inches wide, but only 8 board feet at 8 inches wide. That's why this converter asks for thickness and width: without them, linear feet and board feet simply can't be compared.

Working out coverage area instead? Linear feet to square feet is a different conversion — see board feet vs square feet vs linear feet

Estimating how much lumber is inside a log? Use the log board foot calculator

Linear Feet to Board Feet Conversion Chart

BF per linear foot factors and board feet at common lengths, based on the WWPA board measure equivalents.

Nominal Size	BF per LF	8 ft	10 ft	12 ft	16 ft
1×2	0.1667	1.33BF	1.67BF	2.00BF	2.67BF
1×4	0.3333	2.67BF	3.33BF	4.00BF	5.33BF
1×6	0.50	4.00BF	5.00BF	6.00BF	8.00BF
1×8	0.6667	5.33BF	6.67BF	8.00BF	10.67BF
1×10	0.8333	6.67BF	8.33BF	10.00BF	13.33BF
1×12	1.00	8.00BF	10.00BF	12.00BF	16.00BF
2×4	0.6667	5.33BF	6.67BF	8.00BF	10.67BF
2×6	1.00	8.00BF	10.00BF	12.00BF	16.00BF
2×8	1.3333	10.67BF	13.33BF	16.00BF	21.33BF
2×10	1.6667	13.33BF	16.67BF	20.00BF	26.67BF
2×12	2.00	16.00BF	20.00BF	24.00BF	32.00BF

5/4 (five-quarter) boards: multiply the 1-inch factor by 1.25.

Source: Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) Board Measure Equivalents. Checked 2026-06-12.

Tip: tap a row or column to highlight it. Sizes where thickness × width = 12 (like 2×6 and 1×12) convert one-to-one.

How to Use the LF to BF Calculator

You only need the board size and its length in linear feet.

1
Step 1 — Pick the board size
Tap a Quick Size like 2×4, or type the thickness and width in inches.
2
Step 2 — Enter the length
Type the board's length in linear feet. Add the number of pieces if you have more than one board.
3
Step 3 — Read the board feet
The total board feet and the BF-per-linear-foot factor update instantly. Add a price per linear foot to see total cost.

Understanding the Units

Linear feet measure length. Board feet measure volume.

What is a linear foot?

A linear foot is 1 foot of length along the board. It ignores thickness and width — 8 linear feet of 2×4 and 8 linear feet of 2×12 are the same length but very different amounts of wood.

What is a board foot?

A board foot is a volume unit: a piece of wood 12 × 12 × 1 inches, or 144 cubic inches. It's how hardwood and wholesale lumber are usually priced.

What is BF per LF?

It's the conversion factor: thickness × width ÷ 12. A 2×4 has a factor of 0.67, so every foot of length holds 0.67 board feet. A 2×6 has a factor of 1 — linear feet and board feet match exactly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These details cause most LF → BF errors.

Treating linear feet and board feet as interchangeable

They measure different things — length vs volume. 100 linear feet of 2×12 is 200 board feet, while 100 linear feet of 1×4 is only 33 board feet. Always convert before comparing quantities or prices.

Using actual size instead of nominal size

A 2×4 really measures about 1.5 × 3.5 inches, but board feet are calculated on the nominal 2 × 4 by trade convention. Enter nominal sizes here unless your supplier explicitly measures by actual dimensions.

Comparing a $/LF quote directly with a $/BF price

Convert first: $ per board foot = $ per linear foot ÷ the BF-per-LF factor. A 2×4 at $1.00 per linear foot is $1.50 per board foot, since each foot of length is only 0.67 BF.

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Multi-Board Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply the board's thickness by its width (both in inches), divide by 12, then multiply by the length in linear feet: Board Feet = (Thickness × Width ÷ 12) × Linear Feet. For an 8 ft 2×4: (2 × 4 ÷ 12) × 8 = 5.33 board feet.

Need the reverse direction?Board Feet to Linear Feet Calculator

Disclaimer

Calculations use nominal dimensions, the lumber-trade convention for board feet. Results are estimates for planning. Always confirm quantities and pricing with your supplier before ordering.

Last updated: 2026-06-12

Sources

Western Wood Products Association (WWPA): Board Measure Equivalents table (lineal feet to board feet factors)
Curtis Lumber: Board Footage Chart (formula cross-check)

Pro tip

Memorize the factor trick: thickness × width ÷ 12. If it equals 1 — like a 2×6 or 1×12 — linear feet and board feet match one-to-one. Instant mental math at the lumber yard.