Board Foot Calculator: How To Calculate Board Feet

A Board Foot is a unit of measurement used for lumber in the U.S. It represents a volume of 144 cubic inches (12″ x 12″ x 1″). Calculating board feet helps you know how much wood you need for a project.

board foot calculator

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RESULTS

Fill the calculator form and click on Calculate button to get result here
Board Feet --
Total Board Feet --
Cost --

Save Result

No Board Footage Total Board Footage Cost
Total Board Footage Total Board Footage Cost

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How To Use the Board Foot Calculator

Follow these simple steps to calculate board feet using our tool:

  1. Input Lumber Pieces: Enter the number of wood pieces you have.
  2. Enter Dimensions: Input the thickness, width, and length of each piece in inches.
  3. Optional Price Input: If you know the price per board foot, enter it for accurate cost calculations.

Example

To make it easier, here is an example:

Item Description
Example 1 Length: 96 inches, Width: 8 inches, Thickness: 2 inches
Calculation \( \frac{96 \times 8 \times 2}{144} = 10.67 \, \text{board feet} \)

What is a Board Foot?

A board foot measures volume in lumber. It’s a simple way to estimate the amount of wood you’ll need, especially when buying lumber.

Board Feet Formula

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

Standard Thickness For Various Board Sizes

Understanding the standard thickness of lumber is crucial for accurate project planning, from small cabinetry to large construction. Knowing these measurements ensures you purchase the correct volume of wood, which helps control project costs and can improve your overall return on investment (ROI).

Standard Lumber Thicknesses

Thickness (T) Width (W) Length (L) Board Feet
4/4 (1 inch) 6 inches 8 feet 4 board feet
5/4 (1.25 inches) 6 inches 8 feet 5 board feet
6/4 (1.5 inches) 6 inches 8 feet 6 board feet
8/4 (2 inches) 6 inches 8 feet 8 board feet
12/4 (3 inches) 6 inches 8 feet 12 board feet
16/4 (4 inches) 6 inches 8 feet 16 board feet

FAQs

Question: How Do You Calculate Board Feet?

To figure out the board feet in planks or logs, multiply their length by width and then by thickness in inches, then divide by 12 to get your total.

Question: Why Does A Board Foot Calculator Use Decimal Places?

When measuring wood in decimals it’s more exact than fractions; this helps when you add up lots of measurements so your total isn’t off.

Question: What Are Sig Figs And Why Do They Matter When Calculating Board Feet?

Sig figs (short for significant figures) show how precise your numbers are; they help make sure you don’t count too many or too few digits after the decimal place when working with measurements like the density of wood.

Conclusion

Calculating board feet is easy but only with the right tool and this is why we have made this calculator for you. Being an architect is full of challenges and getting the know the volume of board feet comes in handy for both big and small projects. Grab a board foot calculator and just put in the thickness, width, and length.

It’s perfect for buying or selling lumber because it gives you a quick number to work with. Remember, knowing your board feet can save time and money!

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