Board-Foot / Lumber Cost
Board feet and total lumber cost from nominal dimensions, length, and quantity.
Estimates only — verify with local code and the product label.
How this works
A board foot is the standard volume unit lumber is priced by, especially for hardwoods and larger dimensional orders: one board foot is a piece 1" thick, 1" wide, and 12" (1 foot) long, or any combination of thickness × width × length that multiplies out to the same volume. The formula is (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in inches) ÷ 144.
This tool uses nominal dimensions — the 2 in a "2x6" or the 6 in a "1x6" — because that's how framing and dimensional lumber is sold and priced at the yard, even though the actual dressed size is smaller (a nominal 2x6 is actually 1.5" x 5.5"). If your supplier quotes board feet using actual/dressed dimensions instead (common for hardwood and specialty lumber), use the actual sizes in the thickness and width fields instead.
Total board feet is the per-piece volume times your quantity, with an optional waste percentage added on top for cutoffs and mistakes — 10% is a reasonable default for general framing and trim work, though a project with a lot of angled or scarf cuts might run higher.
Cost is optional: enter a price per board foot (from a quote or a yard's posted price) and the tool multiplies it through. Leave it blank to just get the board-foot count for comparing quotes or checking a supplier's math.
Frequently asked
Nominal or actual dimensions — which do I use?
Use whichever your supplier quotes by. Framing lumber (2x4, 2x6, etc.) is almost always priced by nominal size even though the actual size is smaller. Hardwood and specialty lumber is often priced by actual (dressed) size — check your quote.
What's a typical board-foot price?
It varies enormously by species, grade, and market — this tool doesn't guess a price for you. Use your own quote or a current yard price per board foot.
Questions about a project? Contact us.