Lumber Calculator
Estimate board feet, material costs, and waste factors for any woodworking project
Your Lumber Estimate
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Multi-Board Project
Add multiple board sizes to calculate totals for your entire project.
How to Use the Lumber Calculator
Our lumber calculator helps you estimate the board feet and cost of lumber for any project. Follow these simple steps:
- Enter dimensions: Input the length, width, and thickness of your lumber pieces.
- Set quantity: Specify how many pieces you need.
- Adjust price: Enter the price per board foot for your selected wood species.
- Account for waste: Select a waste factor based on your project complexity.
- Calculate: Click the calculate button to see your results.
What is a Board Foot?
A board foot is the standard unit of measurement for lumber in North America. One board foot equals:
- 1 foot in length
- 1 foot in width
- 1 inch in thickness
The formula for calculating board feet is:
Board Feet = (Length in feet × Width in inches × Thickness in inches) ÷ 12
Frequently Asked Questions
A board foot is a volume measurement for lumber. It represents a piece of wood that is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick. The formula is: (Length in feet × Width in inches × Thickness in inches) ÷ 12.
The waste factor accounts for cutting losses, defects, and mistakes during your project. A higher waste factor (15-20%) is recommended for complex projects with many cuts, while simple projects may only need 5-10% waste allowance.
Board feet measure volume (length × width × thickness), while lineal feet measure only length. Lineal feet are used when purchasing moldings, trim, or dimensional lumber sold by length rather than volume.