Construction Calculators
Board Foot Calculator for Lumber Volume and Cost
Calculate board feet, linear feet, cubic feet, cost per piece, and total cost from lumber dimensions, quantity, and your price per board foot.
Inputs
Lumber totals
Fill the form and press Calculate.
How to calculate lumber quantity and cost
Quick answer: choose a common size or enter custom dimensions, add the piece length and quantity, then enter your price per board foot. On a phone, choose the size first so the thickness and width fields fill before you review the totals.
The result separates board feet, linear feet, cubic feet, cost per piece, and total cost so you can use the measure your supplier quotes. For project-specific takeoffs, estimate boards and joists with the deck calculator, posts and rails with the fence calculator, or finish the room estimate with the paint calculator.
Lumber calculator FAQ
How do I calculate board feet of lumber?
Multiply thickness in inches by width in inches by length in feet, then divide by 12. This calculator multiplies that board-feet-per-piece result by the quantity.
Does the calculator use nominal or measured lumber dimensions?
The common-size presets enter the named dimensions, such as 2 inches by 4 inches. For a calculation based on measured dimensions, choose Custom and enter the thickness and width yourself.
How are total linear feet calculated?
Total linear feet equals the length of each piece multiplied by the number of pieces. Thickness and width do not change the linear-feet result.
How does the lumber cost estimate work?
The calculator multiplies total board feet by the price per board foot you enter. It also shows the estimated cost per piece.