Board Foot Calculator
Calculate board feet of lumber from a board's dimensions.
Measuring lumber by volume
Board foot is the unit hardwood lumber is sold and priced in — a measure of volume based on a board's thickness, width and length, not just its length. This calculates the board feet of a board from its dimensions, the standard way to work out how much timber you are buying and what it should cost.
Enter the board's dimensions to see the board feet.
Why it trips people up
Board foot confuses people because it is a volume, so a thicker or wider board contains more board feet per length than a thin one — you cannot price lumber by length alone. There is also the classic nominal-versus-actual catch: a board sold as a certain size is often milled slightly smaller than its stated dimensions, so the actual size differs from the label. For estimating a project's timber and comparing prices fairly, calculating board feet from the true dimensions gives an honest figure.
Common questions
What is a board foot?
A unit of lumber volume based on thickness, width and length — the standard way hardwood is sold and priced, not by length alone.
Why doesn't the board match its stated size?
Boards are often milled slightly smaller than their nominal label, so the actual dimensions differ — worth using the true size for accuracy.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.