Board Foot Calculator: How to Calculate Lumber Volume

Well, it becomes tricky when working with different-sized pieces, especially for lumber that is cut to different sizes and thicknesses. The board foot calculator allows for an easy conversion of the measurements into a standardized form of lumber volume measurements.

The calculation will be useful for anyone who is either doing some woodwork projects or trying to estimate the cost of hardwood.

What Is a Board Foot?

A board foot is the conventional unit for lumber measurements, which equals a piece of wood measuring:

• 1 inch thick

• 12 inches wide

• 12 inches long

How is it important?

The use of a board foot calculator removes the need to calculate manually and can assist in reducing material waste and pricing mistakes.

While the linear foot doesn’t take into consideration the thickness and width, the board foot takes into consideration length, width, and thickness; board feet is a useful method for determining the quantity of lumber needed for a project. So, this is one of the reasons that sawmills and lumber dealers prefer to measure lumber and its price in board feet.

Let’s say you have two boards of 8-foot lengths. A wide 8‑foot board holds more board feet than a narrow 8‑foot board even if they are the same thickness.

How Does a Board Foot Calculator Work?

Well, to calculate the board foot, we will apply this standard formula:

Board Feet = (Board Thickness × Board Width × Board Length) ÷ 12

Let’s say that you have a board that is 2 inches thick, 6 inches wide, and 8 feet long.

2 ×6 × 8 ÷ 12 = 8 board feet

Thus, you will have 8 board feet.

So, for example, if there are 10 other boards available of similar dimensions, you just have to multiply the board feet (8 board feet) by the number of boards to get the accurate volume of the lumber.

It will be:

10 × 8 = 80 board foot

Why Does Calculating Board Feet Matter?

Well, the knowledge of board foot measurement enables you to calculate your lumber costs in advance based on the material you purchase. Additionally, you get an efficient tool for comparing boards with various measurements.

Consider there are two boards:

Board A: 1 × 6 × 8

Board B: 2 × 6 × 8

In both boards, the width and length are the same; however, Board B includes twice as much material compared to Board A. However, we can’t tell this difference just by looking at the boards.

So, the calculation of the board foot is vital at this point.

How to Use the Board Foot Calculator?

Our Lumber Board Foot Calculator is designed for beginners as well as professionals.

Step 1: Enter Thickness

Insert the thickness of lumber in inches.

Step 2: Enter Width

Insert the width of the board in inches.

Step 3: Enter Length

Insert the length of the board in feet.

Step 4: See the Result Immediately

Calculate the total board feet and volume of lumber.

Price per Board Foot Calculator:

A price per board foot calculator can be used to calculate lumber costs in terms of board feet.

Price Per Board Foot = Total Lumber Cost  /  Total Board Feet

It can be used for:

• Hardwood pricing
• Inventory of lumber
• Estimates from contractors
• Sales of wood slabs
• Sawmill pricing

Example:

If the cost of lumber is $240 and there are 80 board feet:

240 / 80 = 3

Price per board foot will be $3.

Log Board Foot Calculator:

The log board feet calculator computes the quantity of lumber present within a log. The log board feet calculator is very helpful for:

• Sawmills
• Forestry
• Timber purchasers
• Log sellers
• Wood harvesters  

Some common formulas used for calculating logs are:

• Doyle Scale
• Scribner Scale
• International 1/4″ Rule

Common Inputs in Log Calculations:

• Diameter of Log
• Length of Log
• Bark Thickness
• Taper allowance

Linear Board Foot Calculator:

A linear foot calculator calculates length, not volume. For example, when you buy 20 feet of trim, it is 20 linear feet even if it varies in width.

Linear foot calculators are most frequently used to calculate the following:

• Trim
• Molding
• Baseboards
• Flooring
• Fencing
• Decking

Well, linear feet is different from board feet:

Quick insight:

• Use linear feet where the material is mostly priced based on its length. 
• Use board feet where its thickness and width influence the quantity and price. 

So, understanding how linear feet and board feet differ helps us to accurately estimate material.

Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Dimensions:

There is a difference between your estimate and the figure you expect, and that is due to one factor – nominal and actual dimensions are not necessarily equal.

For example, Lumber marked as 1×6 may actually be smaller in thickness than 1 inch and width less than 6 inches once dried and surfaced. On the other hand, rough sawn wood might have true dimensions more resembling nominal sizes.

To conclude, when you are ready to find out how much the order of the lumber will cost you, make sure you know whether your seller is using nominal or true sizes.

Why Choose Our Board Foot Calculator?

Quick Calculation of Lumber Board Feet

Calculate board feet without using any manual formulas.

Precise Results

Avoid wasting material and estimate your material accurately.

Ease of Use

Use the easy-to-fill input boxes to do quick calculations.

Work with Different Lumber Types

Our calculator works with:

• Hardwood
• Softwood
• Live-edge slabs
• Logs
• Dimensional lumber

Good for Professionals and Individuals

Suitable for:

• Carpenters
• Woodworkers
• Contractors
• Sawmills
• Furniture makers
• Homeowners

Common Board Foot Sizes:

Advantages of Proper Lumber Estimation:

The use of a board foot calculator allows:

• Ensuring sufficient material supply
• Eliminating unnecessary lumber buying
• Better financial planning
• Easy monitoring of sawmill inventory
• Increased efficiency in woodwork
• Cost estimation of the projects precisely

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is meant by board foot?

Board foot is the standard unit for lumber measurements, which equals a piece of wood measuring:

• 1 inch thick
• 12 inches wide
• 12 inches long

How do you calculate board feet?

Multiply thickness x width x length and then divide the result by 12.

BF = T x W x L / 12

Is board foot the same as square foot?

No. Square foot is an area measure while board foot is a volume measure.

Is there any way to find out log volume in board feet?

Yes. There is a log board foot calculator that calculates the volume of lumber in board feet.

Why is board foot pricing so important?

It helps in establishing the value of lumber and comparing wood prices.

Calculate Board Feet Instantly:

No matter whether you are measuring for hardwoods used in furniture making, or working on framing lumber or measuring timber, the our Board Foot Calculator will make your job easier in less time.

Get started with measuring your board feet now.