Board Footage Calculator
Geographic Scope: This page covers Florida metropolitan area-level regulations, licensing requirements, and service standards.
Board footage (BF) is the standard unit for measuring lumber volume.
One board foot = 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long.
Thickness (inches)
Width (inches)
Length (feet)
Quantity (boards)
Price per board foot ($)
Calculate Board Footage
Total Board Footage
Board Footage Formula
Board Footage = (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 12
| Dimension | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | inches | Nominal thickness before surfacing |
| Width | inches | Nominal width (actual is usually narrower) |
| Length | feet | Full length of the board |
Common Lumber Sizes Reference
| Nominal Size | Actual Size | BF per 8-ft board |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 | 0.75" × 3.5" | 2.67 BF |
| 1×6 | 0.75" × 5.5" | 4.00 BF |
| 1×8 | 0.75" × 7.25" | 5.33 BF |
| 2×4 | 1.5" × 3.5" | 5.33 BF |
| 2×6 | 1.5" × 5.5" | 8.00 BF |
| 4×4 | 3.5" × 3.5" | 10.67 BF |
References & Methodology
- National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) — Standard rules for measuring and grading hardwood lumber, including board footage calculation methods.
- American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20) — Federal standard (NIST) establishing nominal vs. actual dimensions for softwood lumber.
- Forest Products Laboratory, USDA — Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (General Technical Report FPL-GTR-190).
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