Board foot cut list calculator.

Worked example

Four boards of 2 x 6 in., 8 ft long, are 2 x 6 x 8 / 12 = 8 board feet each, or 32. Three boards of 1 x 8 in., 6 ft long, are 4 each, or 12. The list totals 44 board feet. With a 10% allowance you would buy 48.4 board feet, which is 0.0484 MBF. At $3.50 per board foot that is $169.40.

Method and sources

Formula: board feet per piece = thickness (in.) × width (in.) × length (ft) / 12; inch lengths are divided by 12 first; total = sum of pieces × quantity; to buy = total × (1 + waste%); 1 MBF = 1,000 board feet. One board foot is 144 cubic inches, a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long (Missouri Extension G5050, How to Measure Trees and Logs); the formula and a 12 ft 2-by-6 = 12 board feet example are in Penn State Extension, Valuing Standing Timber; the unit “thousand board feet” used in pricing appears in Virginia Cooperative Extension 420-085 (all retrieved 2026-10). Limits: enter the thickness and width your seller bills on. The tool does not decide between nominal and actual sizes, and it does not model kerf or grain matching, so the waste field is yours to set.

FAQ

How do I calculate board feet for several boards?

Work out thickness x width x length in feet / 12 for each board, multiply by the quantity, and add the lines. This calculator does that for any number of rows.

What is MBF?

MBF means a thousand board feet, a unit prices can be quoted in. Total board feet / 1,000 gives MBF.

How much waste should I add to a cut list?

It depends on the cutting plan, defects and board lengths, and no single standard figure applies. Lay out the cuts on your actual boards, then enter the extra you expect to buy.

Should I enter nominal or actual thickness and width?

Use whatever your seller bills on. Penn State’s example counts a 12 ft 2-by-6 as 12 board feet, a nominal basis; hardwood suppliers often bill rough thickness. Ask first.