Mihsaba›Engineering›Board Foot Calculator

Board Foot Calculator

Calculate total board feet and cubic feet from board thickness and width in inches, length in feet and board count.

Starting values are an editable worked example.

How to use

Calculate total board feet and cubic feet from board thickness and width in inches, length in feet and board count.

  1. Enter Thickness (in).
  2. Enter Width (in).
  3. Enter Length (ft).
  4. Enter Board count.
  5. Calculate, then review the assumptions before purchasing.

How it is calculated

Board feet = thickness in × width in × length ft ÷ 12 × count

Example

Twenty boards measuring 2×6 inches and 8 feet long total 160 board feet, or about 13.33 cubic feet.

Important notes

The board-foot formula can use nominal or actual dimensions depending on what you intend to measure; do not mix them. It measures volume and does not estimate price or cutting loss.

Worked examples and interpreting results

Twenty boards measuring 2×6 inches and 8 feet long total 160 board feet, or about 13.33 cubic feet.

Worked examples and interpreting results
CaseCalculationResult
Board feet2 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12 × 20160
Cubic feet160 ÷ 1213.333333

How to check the result

The board-foot formula can use nominal or actual dimensions depending on what you intend to measure; do not mix them. It measures volume and does not estimate price or cutting loss.

Frequently asked questions

What is a board foot?

It is a lumber volume unit equal to a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long, or 144 cubic inches.

Should I include waste?

Include an allowance when cuts, breakage or layout losses are expected. Use a percentage that fits your project rather than assuming one fixed rate.

Do the units need to match?

Yes. The calculator assumes the units stated beside each field, so convert measurements first when your source uses different units.