Lumber Calculator
Calculate board feet and linear feet of lumber from nominal or actual dimensions. Includes cost estimation and a nominal vs. actual size reference table.
Board Feet Calculator
×
Actual: 1.5" × 3.5"
feet
inches
boards
$per board foot
Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Sizes
Lumber is sold by nominal size but milled to smaller actual dimensions.
| Nominal | Actual T (in) | Actual W (in) | BF per 8 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1×2" | 0.75 | 1.5 | 0.75 |
| 1×3" | 0.75 | 2.5 | 1.25 |
| 1×4" | 0.75 | 3.5 | 1.75 |
| 1×6" | 0.75 | 5.5 | 2.75 |
| 1×8" | 0.75 | 7.25 | 3.63 |
| 1×10" | 0.75 | 9.25 | 4.63 |
| 1×12" | 0.75 | 11.25 | 5.63 |
| 2×2" | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.50 |
| 2×4" | 1.5 | 3.5 | 3.50 |
| 2×6" | 1.5 | 5.5 | 5.50 |
| 2×8" | 1.5 | 7.25 | 7.25 |
| 2×10" | 1.5 | 9.25 | 9.25 |
| 2×12" | 1.5 | 11.25 | 11.25 |
| 4×4" | 3.5 | 3.5 | 8.17 |
| 4×6" | 3.5 | 5.5 | 12.83 |
| 6×6" | 5.5 | 5.5 | 20.17 |
How to Use
- 1Select nominal lumber size (2×4, 1×6, etc.)
- 2Enter board length in feet and inches
- 3Adjust quantity for multiple boards
- 4Optionally enter price per board foot
- 5See board feet, linear feet, and cost
Board Feet Formula
BF = T × W × L ÷ 12
T = thickness (in), W = width (in), L = length (ft)
e.g. 2×4 at 8 ft:
1.5 × 3.5 × 8 ÷ 12 = 3.5 BF