How many board feet do I have?
Enter the thickness, width and length of one board and how many you have — you'll get the total board footage instantly, with the volume in cubic feet or cubic metres alongside.
That's 5.33 bd ft per board × 10 boards.
Board feet = thickness(in) × width(in) × length(ft) ÷ 12. One board foot = 144 cubic inches (a 1 ft × 1 ft × 1 in board). Lumber yards price hardwood by the board foot.
Common questions
- How do you calculate board feet?
- Board feet = thickness (inches) × width (inches) × length (feet) ÷ 12. One board foot is 144 cubic inches — a piece 1 foot wide, 1 foot long and 1 inch thick. For several boards, work out one and multiply by the quantity, which is exactly what this calculator does.
- What is a board foot?
- A board foot is a unit of volume used to measure and price lumber, equal to 144 cubic inches. A board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 12 inches long is one board foot. It measures the amount of wood, regardless of how that wood is cut, so a 1×12×12 in, a 2×6×12 in and a 4×3×12 in board are all one board foot.
- How many board feet are in a 2×4×8?
- A 2×4 that is 8 feet long is 5.33 board feet: 2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12 = 5.33. Board-foot tallies for dimensional lumber use the nominal size (the 2 and the 4), not the dressed 1½ × 3½ inches the board actually measures.
- Do board feet use nominal or actual size?
- Softwood dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6, etc.) is tallied from its nominal size, while rough-sawn hardwood is measured from its actual sawn dimensions, usually with thickness in quarters (4/4 = 1 inch, 8/4 = 2 inches). Enter whichever dimensions match the wood you are buying.
- What is the difference between a board foot and a linear foot?
- A linear foot measures only length — it ignores how thick or wide the board is. A board foot measures volume, so it accounts for thickness and width too. That is why lumber yards sell trim by the linear foot but price hardwood and bulk stock by the board foot.
- How many board feet are in a cubic metre?
- About 423.78 board feet, because one board foot is 144 cubic inches (0.00236 m³). Switch the calculator to metric and it converts your millimetre and metre sizes straight into board feet and cubic metres.
Want the full walk-through? Read the board foot guide →
Reference & education only. Not professional, engineering, or code-compliance advice. Estimates are based on published model codes; local amendments and your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) govern. Always verify against the current adopted code and a licensed professional before doing work.
Last reviewed 2026-06.