Board Foot Calculator

A board foot is the standard unit of measurement for lumber in North America. It represents a volume of wood equal to 144 cubic inches—or a board that's 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long.

This calculator helps you quickly determine:

Total board feet for your lumber order
Volume in cubic meters for metric users
Estimated cost based on price per board foot

Essential for buying rough lumber, estimating project costs, and comparing prices between suppliers.

Board Foot / Cubic Meter Calculator

Calculate lumber volume and cost

Unit System:

Thickness (in)

Width (in)

Length (in)

Quantity (boards)

Price ($ per BF)

Board Foot Formula

The formula is straightforward: (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 144when all dimensions are in inches.

For rough lumber, thickness is typically stated in "quarters"—4/4 means 1 inch thick (rough), 8/4 means 2 inches thick, and so on. After planing, expect to lose 1/4" to 1/2" from the stated thickness.