Calculate total board feet for your project. One board foot = 1″ × 12″ × 12″ (144 cubic inches).
Enter thickness × width × length for each piece
Formula: Board Feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 144 (when using inches)
A board foot is the standard unit for hardwood lumber volume: 144 cubic inches, or a 1″ × 12″ × 12″ board. Enter each board's dimensions and quantity above and the calculator totals board feet per line and for the whole order — add a cost per board foot to budget the purchase. Rough lumber is sold in quarter thicknesses (4/4 = 1″, 8/4 = 2″), so measure the rough size, not the planed size, when pricing stock.
Save your numbers, not just crunch them
Members save cut lists and estimates to projects, feed them into the cost estimator, and track real spend against the plan.
Multiply thickness (in) × width (in) × length (in) and divide by 144. A 1″ × 6″ × 96″ board is 4 board feet.
No. A linear foot measures length only; a board foot measures volume and accounts for thickness and width, which is why hardwood is priced by the board foot.
Quarters of an inch of rough thickness: 4/4 is 1″, 6/4 is 1½″, 8/4 is 2″. Expect to lose about ⅛″–¼″ when the board is milled flat.