Free Tool
Free board foot calculator
Enter thickness, width, length, and how many pieces to get the total board feet, and the cost if you add a price. Free, no signup.
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Buy lumber the way it is priced
Hardwood and rough lumber are sold by the board foot, not the piece, so knowing the board feet is how you check a price and budget a job. A board foot is a piece one inch thick, twelve inches wide, and one foot long.
The math is thickness times width in inches, times length in feet, divided by twelve. Enter your board size and the number of pieces and the calculator totals it, then multiplies by your price per board foot for a cost.
Nominal versus actual size is the thing to watch. Rough lumber is measured at its full nominal size, but a surfaced board is smaller than its name, since a one by six is really three quarters by five and a half. Use the size that matches how the yard measures it.
For a cut list with several sizes, run each size and add them, or use the square footage calculator for sheet goods and the framing calculator for studs and plates.
Board Foot Calculator questions
How do you calculate board feet?
Thickness in inches times width in inches times length in feet, divided by 12, times the number of pieces. The calculator does it all.
What is a board foot?
A piece one inch thick, twelve inches wide, and one foot long, or 144 cubic inches of wood. It is how lumber is priced.
Nominal or actual size?
Use the nominal size for rough lumber and the actual size for surfaced boards, since a one by six is really three quarters by five and a half.
Is this really free?
Yes. No email, no signup, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
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Disclaimer: These free tools and templates are provided for general information and estimating purposes only. All results — including quantities, material and cost estimates, load, sizing, and span figures, scores, and any guidance or warnings — are rough approximations that may not fit your specific project, site conditions, local building codes, or current prices. They are not engineering, architectural, structural, legal, financial, or other professional advice, and are not a substitute for a licensed engineer, architect, contractor, or other qualified professional. Always confirm quantities, sizing, and structural, electrical, mechanical, and code requirements with a licensed professional and your local authority having jurisdiction before purchasing materials or performing any work. Werx makes no warranty as to accuracy and accepts no liability for any decision made using these tools. Use at your own risk. See our Terms of Service.