WOODWORKING

Board Foot Calculator & Lumber Cost Estimator

Free Board Foot (BF) calculator for woodworkers. Calculate lumber volume, estimate project costs, and account for waste percentages instantly.

Project Settings
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Turn this off if you want to price only the exact boards listed.

Switching units converts the current board list.

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3D Board Preview1 Board | 0 Stacks
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Board Foot Guide

How to Use This Tool

  1. Global Settings: Select your unit system (Metric or Imperial), price, and expected waste percentage.
  2. Board Dimensions: Input dimensions for each board. The 3D preview will show you the shape.
  3. Review: See total volume and estimated cost in the summary table.

What is a Board Foot?

A Board Foot (BF) is a unit of volume. 1 BF = 144 cubic inches (12x12x1).

In the Metric system, we simply calculate Cubic Meters (m³).

Formula

Imperial (BF):

(Thk_in × W_in × L_ft) ÷ 12

Metric (m³):

(Thk_mm × W_mm × L_mm) ÷ 1,000,000,000

Metric entries are converted to cubic meters and board feet so you can compare both units.

Practical examples

One shelf board: A 1 in x 12 in x 6 ft board is 6 BF. At $5 per BF with 10% waste, the estimate is $33.

Metric hardwood order: A 25 mm x 150 mm x 2400 mm board is about 0.009 m³, or 3.8 BF before waste.

Common mistakes

Mixing length units: In imperial mode, length is in feet while thickness and width are in inches. If all three values are inches, the result will be 12 times too high.

Using nominal size by accident: Board-foot pricing often follows nominal lumber size. For a shop estimate, measure the actual board when that is what you will cut.

Forgetting waste: Add extra material for trimming, defects, grain choice, and mistakes. Raise the waste allowance for rough or figured boards.

Tips

Keep rough and surfaced boards separate: They may be priced or measured differently. Add them as separate rows so the list is easier to check.

Save before comparing options: Save one calculation, change the species or waste allowance, then save the new version for a quick side-by-side check.

FAQ

Should I use nominal or actual board size?

Use the size your supplier uses for pricing. For rough or random-width hardwood, actual measured width is usually safer for a project estimate.

Why does metric mode still show board feet?

Many lumber prices and plans still use BF. Metric mode calculates cubic meters first, then shows the board-foot equivalent for comparison.

Does this include tax, delivery, or milling fees?

No. The cost is only volume times the price you enter, with optional waste added. Add supplier fees separately.