Board Foot Cost Calculator
A board foot is the standard unit for measuring and pricing hardwood lumber in the United States, equal to 144 cubic inches of wood (a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long). Whether you are planning a furniture project, building cabinets, or pricing a deck, this calculator converts your lumber dimensions into board feet and multiplies by the price per board foot to give you a total material cost. Enter thickness, width, and length in inches, the number of pieces, and the price per board foot. The calculator returns board feet per piece, total board feet across all pieces, and total cost.
Board foot formula
Board feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) / 144
Total cost = Board feet × Pieces × Price per BF
Thickness, width, and length must all be in inches. Divide by 144 (the number of cubic inches in one board foot) to convert to board feet. Multiply by the number of pieces and the price per board foot to get total cost.
Understanding board feet
- A 1x6x8 board is 4 board feet: (1 * 6 * 96) / 144 = 4 BF.
- Hardwood is almost always sold by the board foot; dimensional softwood at home centers is usually sold by the linear foot.
- Rough lumber is typically oversized by 1/4 to 1/2 inch in each dimension; the stated thickness and width reflect the rough size before milling.
- Add 15 to 25 percent to your board foot estimate to allow for surfacing, trimming, and defect removal in rough lumber.
- The USDA Forest Products Laboratory provides data on species properties and industry measurement standards.
Board foot calculator: frequently asked questions
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of lumber volume equal to 144 cubic inches, or a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. It is the standard unit for pricing hardwood lumber in the United States.
How do I calculate board feet?
Board feet = (thickness in inches * width in inches * length in inches) / 144. For length in feet instead of inches, the formula is (thickness * width * length in feet) / 12.
Why do lumber dealers use board feet instead of linear feet?
Board feet account for thickness and width, so they give a true volumetric measure of wood regardless of dimension. Linear feet only measure length, which ignores how much material you actually have.
What is a typical price per board foot for hardwoods?
Prices vary widely by species, grade, and region. Common hardwoods such as poplar or soft maple may run $3 to $6 per board foot, while premium species like walnut or cherry can exceed $15 per board foot. Always get current quotes from your local supplier.
Does this calculator account for waste or rough-sawn oversize?
No. This calculator gives the net board footage based on the dimensions you enter. When buying rough lumber you should add 15 to 25 percent for waste from surfacing, defect removal, and saw kerf losses.
Official sources
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190).
- USDA Forest Service: Forest Service Homepage.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.