Total Board Feet
4.00
BF per Piece
4.00
Boards
1
Total Cost
$20
4.00
4.00
$20
$20
A board foot (bf) is a unit of volume for lumber equal to 144 cubic inches, or a piece 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. It is the standard unit used by lumber yards and hardwood dealers for pricing rough-sawn lumber.
Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12. For example, a board that is 1" thick, 6" wide, and 8 feet long contains (1 × 6 × 8) / 12 = 4.00 board feet.
Linear feet measures only length, while board feet measures volume (thickness × width × length). A 1×6 board and a 2×12 board can both be 8 linear feet, but the 2×12 has 16 board feet vs. 4 board feet for the 1×6.
Hardwood lumber comes in random widths and lengths unlike dimensional softwood (2×4s). Board feet provides a standardized volume measurement so dealers can price lumber fairly regardless of each board's unique dimensions.
Weight varies by species. Oak averages 3.58 lbs/bf, Maple 3.75 lbs/bf, Walnut 2.88 lbs/bf, Cherry 2.92 lbs/bf, Pine 2.33 lbs/bf, Cedar 1.83 lbs/bf, and Poplar 2.50 lbs/bf. These are approximate kiln-dried densities.
| Wood Species | Weight (lbs/bf) | Typical Price/bf |
|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 3.58 | $4.50–$6.00 |
| Hard Maple | 3.75 | $5.00–$7.00 |
| Black Walnut | 2.88 | $8.00–$12.00 |
| Cherry | 2.92 | $6.00–$8.50 |
| Poplar | 2.50 | $3.00–$4.50 |
Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (1 × 6 × 8) / 12 = 4.00 bf. Total = 4.00 × 10 = 40.00 bf. Cost = 40.00 × $5.00 = $200.00.
Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (2 × 8 × 10) / 12 = 13.33 bf. Total = 13.33 × 5 = 66.67 bf. Cost = 66.67 × $8.50 = $566.67. Weight = 66.67 × 2.88 = 192.0 lbs.
Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (1 × 5 × 3) / 12 = 1.25 bf. Total = 1.25 × 12 = 15.00 bf. Cost = 15.00 × $7.25 = $108.75. Weight = 15.00 × 2.92 = 43.8 lbs.
Board Feet = (T × W × L) / 12Calculates the volume of a single board in board feet. Thickness and width are in inches, length is in feet.
Where:
T= Thickness in inchesW= Width in inchesL= Length in feet12= Divisor to convert cubic inches to board feetTotal BF = BF per Piece × Number of BoardsMultiplies the board feet per piece by the number of boards to get total volume.
Where:
BF per Piece= Board feet in one boardNumber of Boards= Quantity of boardsWeight = Total BF × Density (lb/bf)Estimates total lumber weight using species-specific density data for kiln-dried wood.
Where:
Total BF= Total board feet of lumberDensity= Pounds per board foot for the selected speciesBoard feet is the standard volume measurement for hardwood and specialty lumber. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches — a piece one inch thick, twelve inches wide, and twelve inches long.
Unlike dimensional lumber (2×4s, 2×6s) sold by linear foot, hardwood comes in random widths and lengths. Board feet standardizes pricing so you can compare costs across different-sized boards.
When buying lumber, always calculate total board feet before visiting the lumber yard. Knowing your exact needs helps you budget accurately and avoid over-purchasing expensive hardwoods like walnut or cherry.
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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