A board foot is 144 cubic inches: a piece 1" thick, 12" wide and 1 ft long. Board feet = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12, figured from the nominal size, so a 2×4 counts as 2" × 4" even though it measures 1 1/2" × 3 1/2".
The first three tables give one piece of lumber in standard lengths. The last is for hardwood sold by thickness in quarters (4/4 = 1", 8/4 = 2"): multiply its per-foot figure by the board's length in feet.
1x boards, board feet by length
1x boards, board feet by length| Size | 8' | 10' | 12' | 14' | 16' |
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| 1×4 | 2.67 | 3.33 | 4 | 4.67 | 5.33 |
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| 1×6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
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| 1×8 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8 | 9.33 | 10.67 |
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| 1×10 | 6.67 | 8.33 | 10 | 11.67 | 13.33 |
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| 1×12 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
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2x lumber, board feet by length
2x lumber, board feet by length| Size | 8' | 10' | 12' | 14' | 16' |
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| 2×4 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8 | 9.33 | 10.67 |
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| 2×6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
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| 2×8 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16 | 18.67 | 21.33 |
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| 2×10 | 13.33 | 16.67 | 20 | 23.33 | 26.67 |
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| 2×12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 |
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Posts and timbers, board feet by length
Posts and timbers, board feet by length| Size | 8' | 10' | 12' | 14' | 16' |
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| 4×4 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16 | 18.67 | 21.33 |
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| 4×6 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 |
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| 4×8 | 21.33 | 26.67 | 32 | 37.33 | 42.67 |
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| 6×6 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 48 |
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| 8×8 | 42.67 | 53.33 | 64 | 74.67 | 85.33 |
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Hardwood, board feet per linear foot by width
Hardwood, board feet per linear foot by width| Thickness | 4" | 6" | 8" | 10" | 12" |
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4/4
1" | 0.33 | 0.5 | 0.67 | 0.83 | 1 |
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5/4
1.25" | 0.42 | 0.63 | 0.83 | 1.04 | 1.25 |
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6/4
1.5" | 0.5 | 0.75 | 1 | 1.25 | 1.5 |
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8/4
2" | 0.67 | 1 | 1.33 | 1.67 | 2 |
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12/4
3" | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
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Rounding and how to use the chart
Values are rounded to two decimals. Example: an 8 ft 2×4 is 2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12 = 5.33 board feet, so ten of them are 53.33.
Multiply the board feet by the price per board foot for the cost. For other sizes, a mixed stack or the cost worked out, use the board foot calculator.
Estimates only. Check measurements, product labels and local building codes before you buy or build.