How to Calculate Board Feet
What is Board Feet?
Board feet is the standard unit of measurement for lumber volume in North America. One board foot = 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long = 144 cubic inches. It is used to price and quantify rough-sawn timber.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Board feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12
- 2Or: (T × W × L in inches) / 144
- 3For nominal vs actual: a "2×4" is actually 1.5"×3.5" — always use actual dimensions for accurate volume
Worked Examples
Input
1" × 6" × 8 ft board
Result
4 board feet
1×6×8÷12 = 4
Input
2" × 8" × 12 ft
Result
16 board feet
2×8×12÷12 = 16
Ready to calculate? Try the free Board Feet Calculator
Try it yourself →