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What is Board Foot Calculator?
Board Foot (BF) is the standard unit of volume for rough lumber in North America. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12" x 12" x 1").
How it Works
Formula: (Thickness (in) × Width (in) × Length (ft)) / 12. Alternatively: (T(in) × W(in) × L(in)) / 144.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1 Thickness
- Nominal thickness (e.g., 4/4 = 1 inch).
- 2 Width
- Board width in inches.
- 3 Length
- Board length in feet.
- 4 Calculate
- Computes total Board Feet.
Example
Input: 2in x 6in x 8ft
Result: 8 BF
FAQ
What is 4/4 lumber?
It refers to 1-inch thick rough lumber (4 quarters of an inch).
Linear foot vs Board foot?
Linear measures length only; Board foot measures volume.
How much waste?
Plan for 20-30% loss due to knots, checking, and planing.
Nominal vs Actual?
Use the rough/nominal size for BF calculations, not the finished size.
Price calculation?
Total Cost = Total BF * Price per BF.
Conclusion
Unlike linear feet, Board Feet accounts for thickness, which is crucial when buying hardwoods like Oak or Walnut. Always account for 20-30% waste when milling rough lumber to finished dimensions.