Calculate board footage for a single board in US or metric dimensions, or paste a complete lumber list. Add a waste allowance and price per board foot for an order and cost estimate.
How to use this calculator
Enter thickness, width, length, and quantity in their displayed units. Board feet measure wood volume; they are different from the surface area covered by boards. Confirm whether the supplier prices nominal or actual dimensions before applying a unit price.
Examples
Six 1 × 8 × 10 boards
Each board contains 6.667 BF, so the six boards contain 40 BF. With 10% waste, plan for 44 BF.
Mixed lumber list
Six 1 × 8 × 10 boards plus two 2 × 6 × 8 boards total 56 BF, or 61.6 BF after a 10% allowance.
Formula
board feet = thickness(in) × width(in) × length(ft) × quantity ÷ 12
One board foot is 144 cubic inches, 1/12 cubic foot, or exactly 0.002359737216 cubic metres. The 144 in³ relationship is listed in NIST's tables of measurement equivalents.
Ordering limits
Board footage is volume, not a cut list optimization. Waste depends on board lengths offered, defects, grain and color matching, milling loss, kerf, and how parts nest on each board. The entered percentage increases board feet but does not round to the seller's available widths, thicknesses, or lengths. Confirm whether pricing uses rough, nominal, green, dried, or surfaced dimensions and build a board-by-board cutting plan before purchase.