Lumber Calculator
Calculate board feet of lumber and total cost for any woodworking or construction project. Supports nominal vs actual dimensions and common dimensional lumber sizes.
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Total Board Feet
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Board Feet Each —
Estimated Cost —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
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Total Board Feet
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Total Linear Feet —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
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Dimensions
Actual Thickness —
Actual Width —
Board Feet
Board Feet (net) —
Board Feet (w/ waste) —
Weight & Cost
Est. Weight —
Total Cost —
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the thickness (inches), width (inches), and length (feet) of the lumber.
- Enter the quantity of pieces.
- Optionally enter your price per board foot for a cost estimate.
Formula
Board Feet = (thickness × width × length) ÷ 12 × quantity
Cost = Board Feet × price per board foot
Example
Example: 10 pieces of 2×6 lumber, 12 ft long → (2 × 6 × 12) ÷ 12 × 10 = 120 board feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
- A board foot is a unit of lumber volume equal to 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long (144 cubic inches). It is the standard unit for pricing and ordering lumber.
- Board feet = (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet) ÷ 12. For example, a 2×4 that is 8 feet long = (2 × 4 × 8) ÷ 12 = 5.33 board feet.
- A nominal 2×4 actually measures 1.5 inches × 3.5 inches. Lumber is sold by nominal dimensions but is smaller when dried and surfaced.
- Construction-grade lumber typically costs $0.50–$1.50 per board foot. Select and premium grades can cost $3–$8+ per board foot depending on species.