Board Foot Calculator
Calculate lumber volume in board feet and estimate costs. Essential for hardwood purchasing and woodworking projects.
Board Dimensions
inches
inches
feet
Quantity & Pricing
$
Per Board
Board Feet (per board)
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Volume
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Total Order
Total Board Feet
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Total Volume
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Board Foot Basics
- 1 board foot = 144 cubic inches = 12" × 12" × 1"
- Hardwood is sold by the board foot - unlike dimensional lumber
- Nominal vs actual: Hardwood thickness is often stated before planing (4/4 = ~13/16" actual)
- Common thicknesses: 4/4 (1"), 5/4 (1.25"), 6/4 (1.5"), 8/4 (2")
- Random width/length: Hardwood often comes in random sizes
- Add 20-30% extra for waste when planning projects
Ad Space - 728x90
Common Hardwood Prices (USD/BF)
| Species | Price Range | Hardness |
|---|---|---|
| Oak (Red/White) | $4 - $8 | Hard |
| Maple (Hard) | $5 - $10 | Very Hard |
| Walnut | $8 - $15 | Medium |
| Cherry | $6 - $12 | Medium |
| Ash | $4 - $7 | Hard |
| Poplar | $2 - $5 | Soft |
| Mahogany | $8 - $20 | Medium |
Prices vary by region, grade, and market conditions.
Board Foot Formula
The board foot is the standard unit for measuring hardwood lumber:
Board Feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 144
Where thickness and width are in inches, and length is in inches (or divide by 12 if length is in feet).
Quick formula: BF = (T" × W" × L') ÷ 12