Calculate lumber board feet (BF), linear footage, cubic volume, and material costs for woodworking, milling, and carpentry.
Did this calculation save you time?
Student ProjectHi! I'm a student developer building Calculat in my spare time. I was tired of searching for basic math tools and having to click through 10 spammy popups, loan ads, and cookie trackers.
I keep this website 100% free, private, and ad-free. If this helped you with your homework, project, or finances today, bookmarking this page or telling a friend helps me keep building more free tools!
A wood calculator computes board footage—the universal volume unit used by sawmills and hardwood suppliers. One board foot represents a piece of lumber 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long (144 cubic inches).
\text{Board Feet} = \frac{\text{Thickness (in)} \times \text{Width (in)} \times \text{Length (ft)}}{12} \times \text{Quantity}If length is measured in inches, divide the product of Thickness × Width × Length by 144.
Scenario: Purchasing 8 pieces of rough-sawn 8/4 (2-inch thick) walnut, 8 inches wide and 10 feet long, priced at $12.50 per board foot.
Board feet per piece: (2 in × 8 in × 10 ft) ÷ 12 = 160 ÷ 12 = 13.33 BF.
Total board feet (8 pieces): 13.33 × 8 = 106.67 BF.
Total cost: 106.67 BF × $12.50 = $1,333.38.
One board foot (BF) is a volume measurement representing a solid board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot (12 inches) long, equaling 144 cubic inches.
Multiply linear feet by thickness (in) and width (in), then divide by 12: Board Feet = Linear Feet × (Thickness × Width) ÷ 12.
Using nominal dimensions: (2 in × 4 in × 8 ft) ÷ 12 = 64 ÷ 12 = 5.33 Board Feet.
(2 in × 6 in × 12 ft) ÷ 12 = 144 ÷ 12 = 12.0 Board Feet.
Calculate the weight of lumber and logs across tree species in pounds and kilograms for kiln-dried versus green wood.
Calculate wall studs, sole plates, double top plates, and door/window headers for 16" and 24" on-center residential framing.
Calculate deck boards (5/4x6 and 2x6), joist layout, linear footage, and screw counts for backyard decks and patios.
Estimated Lumber Cost: $450