What is a Board Foot Calculator?

it’s a handy tool for estimating the amount of lumber you’ll need for woodworking projects. The key measurement with lumber is “board feet” basically, the volume of boards in cubic feet.

Here’s how a board foot calculator works:

You input the dimensions (length, width, and thickness) of each lumber board you plan to use. The calculator then automatically determines the board feet based on those measurements. For example, a 2×4 that is 8 ft long contains 8 board feet (2″ x 4″ x 8′ = 8 board feet).

The cool part is that it tallies up the total board feet for your entire project shopping list. This helps you determine how much lumber to purchase. No more guessing how many boards you need!

How to calculate board foot measure?

Calculating board feet is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Here’s a quick rundown:

The basic formula is:

Board Feet = (Width in inches x Length in feet x Thickness in inches) / 12

For example, say you have a board that is 6 inches wide, 8 feet long, and 1 inch thick.

You’d plug those numbers into the formula:

(6″ x 8′ x 1″) / 12 = 4 board feet

The key is to always convert width and thickness into inches, and length into feet. Then divide by 12 to convert cubic inches into board feet.

For multiple boards, just add up each one individually. And don’t forget that 2x4s and other dimensional lumber already have their thickness in the name, so a 2×4 is 1.5 inches thick.

Once you get comfortable with the formula, calculating board feet becomes second nature. It’s a super handy skill for estimating lumber needs and budgets.

how do you calculate a board foot of lumber?

Calculating lumber board feet is pretty simple! You just need the width, length, and thickness of each board in inches and feet. Then use this formula:

(Width in inches x Length in feet x Thickness in inches) / 12 = Board feet

For example, say you have a 1×4 that’s 8 ft long and 3/4 inch thick. You’d calculate:

(3.5″ x 8′ x 0.75″) / 12 = 2 board feet.

It’s that easy! This formula works for any size of lumber. Just remember to convert width and thickness to inches and length to feet first.

how to calculate the board foot of a 2 x 6?

figuring out a 2×6 board foot measure follows the same process! Since 2×6 lumber is 1.5 inches thick, you would calculate:

(5.5″ x Length in ft x 1.5″) / 12 = Board feet

So for a 10-foot 2×6:

(5.5″ x 10′ x 1.5″) / 12 = 6.875 board feet

Use this formula for any dimensional lumber by plugging in the true width, length, and thickness. Converting to inches and feet first makes it easy to get the board feet calculation right.

Who in the county can calculate 10 per board foot?

The “10 per board foot” pricing refers to lumber that costs $10 for each board foot. Many local lumber suppliers like sawmills, lumberyards, and home centers can calculate board feet for you.

Simply provide the dimensions of the lumber you need and they’ll figure out the total board feet.

Then you just multiply by the $10 per board foot rate to get the total cost. It’s an easy way to estimate your budget for DIY projects or construction jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Board Foot Calculator