MEASURE. TOTAL. TAKE IT WITH YOU.
Turn your lumber list into board feet and a purchase estimate.
A few measurements. A clearer trip to the lumberyard.
YOUR LUMBER LIST
Use the dimensions your quote is based on. Rough-stock thickness and surfaced measurements can differ. We use exactly what you enter.
THE PURCHASE PICTURE
Ready when you areEnter your board sizes, then calculate.
Quoted prices are optional.
Board feet from your list
| Board & dimensions | Qty | BF each | Total BF | Quote / BF | Cost |
|---|
This is a planning estimate from your inputs. Confirm the supplier’s tally and price basis before ordering. Board feet alone do not guarantee cut-list yield. Tax, delivery and milling charges are excluded.
THE MEASURE BEHIND THE MATH
One board foot is 144 cubic inches: a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 12 inches long. Wider, thicker or longer boards contain more board feet.
Using length in inches? Divide by 144 instead. Multiply by quantity for the total.
A WORKED EXAMPLE
For five boards, each 1 in × 6 in × 8 ft:
(1 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12) × 5 = 20 BF
At a quoted $8 per BF, that is $160. If you choose a 15% allowance, your planning target becomes 23 BF and $184.
Example prices only. The original board list still contains 20 BF; the allowance is shown separately.
Your list has entries. Clear the list first to load the example.
ROUGH-STOCK THICKNESS
Quarter-stock names describe rough thickness in quarters of an inch. Surfacing removes material; confirm which thickness your supplier prices.
| Stock name | Rough thickness |
|---|---|
| 4/4 | 1 inch |
| 5/4 | 1¼ inches |
| 6/4 | 1½ inches |
| 8/4 | 2 inches |
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE BUYING
Enter the quoted dimensions when planning a purchase. Enter measured dimensions when calculating volume at those measurements. We do not silently convert nominal sizes, round up thickness or apply a supplier’s commercial tally rules.
Knots, grain, saw cuts and the widths and lengths of your required parts affect how much usable wood you get. An allowance helps you plan; it cannot confirm a cutting layout. This calculator covers sawn boards, not logs, standing trees or structural suitability.
The formula follows Mississippi State University Extension’s board-foot explanation. Hardwood Industries’ published calculator notes illustrate why commercial tallies can differ. References are independent; they do not endorse Convert42.
Full calculation precision is retained until display. Results and costs display to two decimal places. Very small results can round to 0.00; the calculation is not a certified trade measurement.
Operated by Big42. Report a correction with the dimensions and units you checked. Calculation method and implementation checked 6 November 2026. No specialist trade certification is claimed.