Board Feet Calculator
Board feet is the unit hardwood yards price by: 144 cubic inches of wood. Enter nominal size, length and quantity to get volume per board, order total and cost.
Result
- Board feet per board5.5bd ft
- Total board feet55bd ft
- With 10% waste60.5bd ft
- Estimated cost90.75USD
- Total linear feet80lin ft
How it works
bd ft = (thickness in × width in × length ft) ÷ 12 × quantity × (1 + waste)
- Per board = (1.5 × 5.5 × 8) ÷ 12 = 5.5 bd ft
- 10 boards = 55 bd ft
- + 10% waste = 60.5 bd ft
- Cost at $1.5/bd ft = $90.75
How the board feet calculator works
One board foot is a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 12 inches long — 144 cubic inches. The NHLA formula multiplies thickness and width in inches by length in feet, then divides by 12.
Softwood framing (2×4s, 2×8s) is normally sold per piece or per linear foot at the big-box store. Board feet pricing is the language of hardwood yards and specialty lumber.
For a full order, multiply per-board volume by quantity, add waste and multiply by your price per board foot.
Formula
bd ft = (thickness in × width in × length ft) ÷ 12
Worked example: ten 2×8 boards, 12 ft long
- Per board = (2 × 8 × 12) ÷ 12 = 16 board feet
- Ten boards = 16 × 10 = 160 board feet
- With 10% waste = 176 board feet
- At $1.50 per board foot = $264
- Total linear feet = 12 × 10 = 120 ft
Board feet per board (nominal sizes)
| Size | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1×6 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| 2×4 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.0 |
| 2×6 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 |
| 2×8 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.0 |
| 2×10 | 13.33 | 16.67 | 20.0 |
| 2×12 | 16.0 | 20.0 | 24.0 |
NHLA formula with nominal dimensions. Actual (dressed) sizes differ.
Frequently asked questions
How many board feet are in a 2×8 that is 12 feet long?
16 board feet, using nominal dimensions: (2 × 8 × 12) ÷ 12 = 16. The actual dressed size is 1.5 × 7.25 inches, but hardwood pricing uses nominal sizes for softwood and actual for most hardwood.
What is the difference between a board foot and a linear foot?
A linear foot is 12 inches of length, regardless of width or thickness. A board foot is volume — 144 cubic inches. Two boards of the same length can differ greatly in board feet if their cross-sections differ.
How do I convert square feet to board feet?
Multiply the square footage by the thickness in inches. A 300 sq ft floor in 3/4" stock is 225 board feet (300 × 0.75); in 1" nominal stock it's 300 board feet.
Is board feet volume before or after milling?
For softwood, the NHLA formula uses nominal dimensions (a 2×8 counts as 2 × 8). For hardwood, mills and yards price on actual dimensions. Know which convention your supplier uses before comparing quotes.