What is a board foot?

A board foot (BF) is a unit of volume equal to 144 cubic inches of wood — equivalent to a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. It is the standard pricing unit for hardwood lumber in North America. The formula is: BF = (Thickness x Width x Length in feet) / 12, using nominal dimensions.

How many board feet in a 2x6x10?

A 2x6x10 contains 10 board feet: (2 x 6 x 10) / 12 = 10 BF. Remember to use nominal dimensions (2 and 6), not the actual surfaced dimensions (1.5 and 5.5).

What does MBF mean in lumber pricing?

MBF stands for 'thousand board feet' (M is the Roman numeral for 1,000). Wholesale lumber is priced per MBF. If lumber is quoted at $600/MBF, that equals $0.60 per board foot. Retail pricing per piece can be converted to MBF for comparison shopping.

Why is hardwood sold by the board foot instead of by the piece?

Hardwood lumber comes in random widths and lengths because it is sawn from logs of varying sizes. Unlike dimensional softwood lumber which is standardized (2x4, 2x6, etc.), each hardwood board is unique. Board foot pricing normalizes the cost by volume regardless of individual board dimensions.

How do I convert linear feet to board feet?

Multiply linear feet by the nominal thickness and width in inches, then divide by 12. Example: 100 linear feet of 1x6 = (1 x 6 x 100) / 12 = 50 board feet. For 2x4: (2 x 4 x 100) / 12 = 66.67 board feet.

What is the cheapest hardwood per board foot?

Poplar is typically the least expensive domestic hardwood at $3-5 per board foot, followed by soft maple ($4-6) and red oak ($4-7). Alder is affordable on the West Coast. For outdoor projects, white oak ($5-9/BF) is the most cost-effective rot-resistant hardwood. Exotic species like ipe, teak, and mahogany range from $10-25+/BF.

Board Feet Calculator

Board feet calculator: Convert timber dimensions to board feet. Free tool for hardwood pricing — instant BF and cost estimate.

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Enter Your Measurements

How to Use This Calculator

1Enter the board thickness in inches (nominal dimension).
2Enter the board width in inches (nominal dimension).
3Enter the board length in feet.
4Enter the number of pieces.
5Click Calculate to get total board feet and estimated cost.

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About This Material

A board foot (BF) is the standard unit of volume measurement for lumber in North America. One board foot equals a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long — or 144 cubic inches of wood. The formula is: Board Feet = (Thickness in inches x Width in inches x Length in feet) / 12. Board feet use nominal (not actual) dimensions, so a surfaced 2x6 is calculated as 2 x 6, not 1.5 x 5.5. This measurement is essential for purchasing hardwood lumber, which is almost always sold by the board foot rather than by the piece. Softwood framing lumber at retail stores is typically sold by the piece, but wholesale lumberyards and sawmills price it by the thousand board feet (MBF). Common hardwood prices per board foot: red oak $4-7, white oak $5-9, maple $5-8, cherry $6-10, walnut $8-15, and exotic species $10-25+. When buying rough-sawn hardwood for furniture or cabinetry, account for waste from surfacing (planing removes 1/8 to 1/4 inch per face), edge jointing, and defect cutting — add 25-40% to your calculated board footage to arrive at the purchase quantity.

Next Steps:

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Installation Tips

•Use nominal (not actual) dimensions when calculating board feet.
•Add 25-40% waste factor when buying rough-sawn hardwood for furniture projects.
•Ask the lumberyard to surface (S2S) rough-sawn boards to save shop time.
•Request FAS or Select grade hardwood for projects requiring clear, defect-free faces.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using actual dimensions instead of nominal — board feet always use nominal sizes.
Not accounting for surfacing loss when buying rough-sawn lumber.
Forgetting to add waste factor for defects, sapwood, and cutting losses.
Comparing board foot prices across species without accounting for density and workability.

Board Feet Calculator

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About This Material

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