Board Feet Calculator
Board Feet Calculator works out Board feet and Board feet per piece from What to work out, Nominal size and Thickness. The default figures on this page give board feet of 16.0000 board ft; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
1 step
- Board feet = 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft x 4 / 12 = 16
Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Keep this result
Save it, change one figure, then compare the two
The calculation stays free. Save this scenario, adjust one assumption, save that too, and put them side by side to see exactly what the change costs you. A free account keeps 5 scenarios and 2 comparisons; Personal makes both unlimited and adds exports and private links. Nothing is saved unless you press Save.
What the Board Feet Calculator calculates
Tallies lumber: board feet from nominal thickness, width, length and piece count, linear feet from a piece list or a square-foot coverage, plus face area, true dressed volume and material cost.
How to use this Board Feet Calculator
Enter What to work out, Nominal size, Thickness and Width. Board feet updates as you type. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Board feet, Board feet per piece and Linear feet.
The method follows US Department of Commerce Voluntary Product Standard PS 20, American Softwood Lumber Standard (nominal vs dressed S4S dry sizes) and NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.9 (international inch = 25.4 mm exactly, foot = 0.3048 m exactly).
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Board feet, Board feet per piece and Linear feet. The inputs you can vary are What to work out, Nominal size, Thickness, Width, Length and Pieces.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
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Frequently asked questions
How many board feet is a 2x4x8?
On the figures this page opens with, the board feet is 16 board ft. No single number fits everyone: it follows What to work out, Nominal size and Thickness, so enter your own above and the answer updates as you type.
How much will 200 board feet cover?
It needs What to work out, Nominal size, Thickness, Width, Length and Pieces. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
How much is 1000 board feet worth?
The result gives Board feet, Board feet per piece, Linear feet, Face area, True volume (dressed size where known) and Material cost, each labelled with its unit so the figure can be read on its own.
What information do I need for the Board Feet Calculator?
You need What to work out, Nominal size, Thickness, Width, Length, Pieces and Price per board foot. The page opens with default figures that give board feet of 16.0000 board ft, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this Board Feet Calculator show?
It shows Board feet, Board feet per piece, Linear feet, Face area, True volume (dressed size where known) and Material cost, with the working and any warnings for your entries.
Can I check how the Board Feet Calculator result was calculated?
Yes. The “How this is worked out” section shows the calculation steps, and the sources section identifies the references used for the method.