Multi-Board Calculator
| Length (ft) | Width (in) | Thickness (in) | Quantity | Board Feet | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.00 BF |
Total Summary
Understanding Your Results
Small Projects (< 50 BF)
Ideal for small DIY projects like shelves, picture frames, or small furniture pieces. Easy to transport and work with.
Medium Projects (50-200 BF)
Perfect for medium-sized projects like cabinets, bookcases, or deck repairs. Requires careful planning and material selection.
Large Projects (> 200 BF)
Suitable for major construction projects like full decks, room additions, or large furniture sets. Consider bulk pricing and delivery options.
What is the Multi-Board Calculator?
Real-World Use Cases
Example 1: Building a Deck
A homeowner is building a 10×12 deck and needs to calculate the total lumber required:
Calculation Steps
- 10 pieces of 2×6×12 (deck boards): (2 × 6 × 12 × 10) ÷ 12 = 120.0 BF
- 8 pieces of 2×8×16 (joists): (2 × 8 × 16 × 8) ÷ 12 = 170.7 BF
- 4 pieces of 4×4×8 (posts): (4 × 4 × 8 × 4) ÷ 12 = 42.7 BF
Example 2: Cabinet Making
A woodworker is building kitchen cabinets and needs various plywood and hardwood pieces:
Calculation Steps
- 6 sheets of 3/4" × 24" × 96" plywood (sides): (0.75 × 24 × 8 × 6) ÷ 12 = 72.0 BF
- 4 sheets of 3/4" × 18" × 72" plywood (backs): (0.75 × 18 × 6 × 4) ÷ 12 = 27.0 BF
- 12 pieces of 1" × 2" × 48" hardwood (trim): (1 × 2 × 4 × 12) ÷ 12 = 8.0 BF
Example 3: Furniture Making
A furniture maker is purchasing hardwood for a dining table project:
Calculation Steps
- 5 pieces of 8/4 (2") × 8" × 8' walnut (tabletop): (2 × 8 × 8 × 5) ÷ 12 = 53.3 BF
- 4 pieces of 4/4 (1") × 4" × 36" walnut (legs): (1 × 4 × 3 × 4) ÷ 12 = 4.0 BF
- 2 pieces of 4/4 (1") × 6" × 48" walnut (aprons): (1 × 6 × 4 × 2) ÷ 12 = 4.0 BF
How to Use the Multi-Board Calculator
Enter First Board Dimensions
Input the length (in feet), width (in inches), thickness (in inches), and quantity for your first board. The calculator will automatically compute the board feet for this piece.
Add More Boards
Click the 'Add Another Board' button to add additional boards with different dimensions. You can add as many boards as needed for your project.
Review Total Board Feet
The calculator automatically sums up all board feet from your list and displays the total at the bottom. This updates in real-time as you add or modify boards.
Estimate Cost (Optional)
Enter the price per board foot in the optional field to see the total cost estimation. This helps you budget your project accurately.
Save Your Calculation
Click 'Save to Browser' to store your board list in your browser's local storage. Your data will be restored when you return to the page.
Why Use the Multi-Board Calculator?
Save Time
Calculate multiple boards at once instead of computing each piece individually. Perfect for complex projects with many different lumber sizes.
Accurate Planning
Get precise total board feet calculations for your entire project. Helps you order the right amount of lumber and avoid waste or shortages.
Cost Estimation
Quickly estimate your lumber costs by entering the price per board foot. Compare different lumber grades and suppliers to stay within budget.
Project Organization
Keep all your lumber calculations in one place. Save your board list to browser storage and access it anytime you need to reference or modify your project plan.
Input Parameters Explained
Length
The length of the board in feet. Standard lumber lengths are 8, 10, 12, and 16 feet, but you can enter any length including decimals.
Width
The width of the board in inches. Common widths include 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches. Enter the actual width, not the nominal size.
Thickness
The thickness of the board in inches. Common thicknesses are 1 inch (4/4), 1.5 inches (6/4), and 2 inches (8/4). Use actual thickness, not nominal.
Quantity
The number of identical boards with the same dimensions. Enter 1 if you only have one piece, or a higher number for multiple identical boards.
Price per Board Foot
Optional field for cost estimation. Enter the price per board foot for your lumber. This varies by wood species, grade, and supplier.
Board Foot Formula
Single Board Calculation
Each board's board feet is calculated by multiplying thickness (inches), width (inches), length (feet), and quantity, then dividing by 12.
(Thickness × Width × Length × Quantity) ÷ 12
Example: Example: 8 ft × 6 in × 1 in × 2 pieces = (1 × 6 × 8 × 2) ÷ 12 = 8.0 BF
Total Board Feet
The total board feet is the sum of all individual board calculations in your list.
Sum of all individual board feet
Example: Example: Board 1 (8.0 BF) + Board 2 (20.0 BF) + Board 3 (12.0 BF) = 40.0 BF total
Total Cost
If you enter a price per board foot, the total cost is calculated by multiplying the total board feet by the price.
Total Board Feet × Price per Board Foot
Example: Example: 40.0 BF × $3.50/BF = $140.00 total cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Click the 'Save to Browser' button to store your board list in your browser's local storage. Your data will be automatically restored when you return to the page. You can also click 'Clear Storage' to remove saved data.
The simple calculator on the homepage calculates one board at a time. This multi-board calculator lets you add multiple boards with different dimensions and automatically calculates the total board feet and cost. It's ideal for complex projects with many different lumber sizes.
Enter the price per board foot in the 'Price per Board Foot' field, and the total cost will be calculated automatically. Lumber prices vary by species, grade, and supplier, so check with your local lumberyard for current pricing.
Currently, this calculator only supports imperial units (feet and inches). For metric conversions, you can use our unit conversion tools or convert your measurements before entering them.
The calculator will treat negative numbers and zeros as invalid and display 0 board feet for that board. All dimensions and quantities must be positive numbers greater than zero.
There's no strict limit on the number of boards you can add. However, for optimal performance, we recommend keeping your list under 50 boards. For larger projects, consider grouping boards with identical dimensions and using the quantity field.
Export functionality is not currently available but is planned for a future update. For now, you can use the 'Copy Result' button to copy the total to your clipboard, or take a screenshot of your board list.