🪵 Lumber Calculator
Enter each piece's thickness, width, length, and quantity to get the total board feet for your project — and a material cost estimate when you add your price per board foot.
🧮 Board Feet & Cost
What is a Lumber Calculator?
It converts a cut list into board feet — the unit hardwood is sold in — so you can price a project before you get to the yard. For each piece it multiplies thickness by width by length, divides by 144, and scales by quantity, then sums every row into one project total.
Add your price per board foot and it estimates the material cost too. Because lumber is billed on rough thickness, enter the nominal (quarter-notation) size, and pad your order with a waste allowance for defects and offcuts so you come home with enough stock.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a board foot?
A board foot is the standard volume unit for pricing hardwood: 144 cubic inches of wood, equal to a piece 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. Board feet = (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in inches) ÷ 144, multiplied by quantity.
Do I use rough or finished thickness?
Lumber is priced on its rough (nominal) thickness in quarter notation — 4/4 means 1 inch, 5/4 means 1¼ inch, 8/4 means 2 inch — even though the surfaced board ends up thinner. Enter the thickness you are billed for to match the yard's price per board foot.
How do I estimate cost from board feet?
Multiply the total board feet by the price per board foot the supplier quotes for that species and grade. Enter your price per board foot in the calculator and it returns the total cost. Remember to add a waste allowance for defects, snipe, and offcuts — 15–30% is common.
Does the calculator handle several different pieces?
Yes. Add a row for each distinct size in your cut list, set the quantity for each, and the calculator sums the board feet across every row so you get one project total — and one cost figure if you enter a price.