Lumber Board Foot Calculator
Board Feet Explained: The Basics of Lumber Measurement
Before we depend on any tool, we need to understand the "why" behind the "what". The board foot is a basic unit of measurement for lumber in the U.S. and Canadian customary systems, and understanding board feet is essential to knowing how to plan and purchase lumber.
What is a Board Foot and Why is it Important
A board foot is a unit of volume, 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick, so that 12” board foot is calculated 1’x1’x1“. This is approximately equal to 144 in^3. Unlike square footage, which is only concerned with surface area, the board foot takes thickness into account, and this is important because the commercial value of lumber is dependent upon its volume, not just covering an area with lumber.
The importance of a board foot calculator lies in its ability to help you communicate using a common language. Whether you’re buying a single oak plank from a sawmill or ordering thousands of feet of pine for a construction project, the price is usually quoted to you per “board foot.” This kind of levelling lets you make apples-to-apples comparisons of services and make a very clear budgeting plan, and pay only for what you need.
The Math of Board Foot Calculations
What makes the board foot mathematics so nifty is its simplicity. The formula is straightforward:
(Length (ft) x Width (in) x Thickness (in)) / 12 = Board Feet
You then divide by 12 because you’re simply converting the linear and inch measurements into the standard unit of measure found in board feet. Let's see an example. Suppose you have an 8-foot-long plank with a 6-inch width and a 1-inch thickness.
(8' x 6" x 1") / 12 = 48 / 12 = 4 board feet.
If that plank happened to be 2 inches thick, the calculation would be:
(8 ft x 6” x 2”)/12 = 96/12 = 8 board feet.
This calculation is the original formula that runs every board foot calculator, digital application or mental math in your head.
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