Board Feet Calculator
Calculate board feet, total volume and lumber cost for any board — free.
Enter thickness, width, length and quantity for each board. The calculator converts to board feet using the standard formula (T × W × L ÷ 144) and totals your lumber list, with optional cost per board foot.
FAQ
What is a board foot?
A board foot (bf) is a volume unit for lumber equal to 144 cubic inches — a board 1 inch thick and 12 inches square. Total board feet are calculated as thickness × width × length ÷ 144, with all dimensions in inches.
Do I use nominal or actual dimensions?
Board feet are calculated from nominal (rough) dimensions — that is how lumber is bought and sold. A 2×4 actually measures 1.5in × 3.5in dressed, but it is still counted as a full 2×4 for pricing.
How do I calculate board feet in metric units?
Enter dimensions in mm, cm or m — the calculator converts them to inches first, then applies the board foot formula. 1 board foot ≈ 2.359 liters ≈ 0.00236 m³.
How much does a board foot weigh?
It depends on species: 1 board foot of kiln-dried pine weighs about 1.2 kg (2.6 lb), red oak about 1.77 kg (3.9 lb). Select a species above and the calculator multiplies your total board feet by the species density (kg/m³ × 0.0023597 m³ per bf).
How do I convert board feet to kilograms or pounds?
Convert board feet to volume first: 1 bf = 144 in³ = 0.0023597 m³. Then weight = volume × density. Example: 100 bf of pine (500 kg/m³) → 100 × 0.0023597 × 500 = 118 kg ≈ 260 lb. The calculator does this automatically and shows both units.
Does moisture content change the weight?
Yes — significantly. Densities here refer to kiln-dried wood at ~12% moisture content. Freshly cut (green) lumber can carry 50–100% extra water; the Fresh setting adds 50% as a practical middle value.