Board Feet Formula:
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Board feet is a unit of measurement for the volume of lumber. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12" × 12" × 1"). It's commonly used in the lumber industry to quantify wood volume.
The calculator uses the board feet formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula converts linear measurements into volume by accounting for all three dimensions and standardizing to the board foot unit.
Details: Accurate board feet calculation is essential for lumber pricing, inventory management, project planning, and ensuring you purchase the correct amount of wood for construction or woodworking projects.
Tips: Enter thickness and width in inches, length in feet. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the equivalent board feet.
Q1: How many board feet are in a 2x4?
A: A 2x4 that's 8 feet long contains 5.33 board feet (2" × 4" × 8') / 12 = 5.33 board feet.
Q2: What's the difference between board feet and linear feet?
A: Linear feet measures length only, while board feet measures volume (length × width × thickness).
Q3: How do you calculate board feet for multiple pieces?
A: Calculate board feet for one piece, then multiply by the number of identical pieces.
Q4: Why is thickness measured in quarters?
A: In lumber industry, thickness is often expressed in quarters of an inch (4/4 = 1", 5/4 = 1.25", etc.).
Q5: How accurate are board feet calculations?
A: Calculations are mathematically precise, but actual lumber dimensions may vary slightly due to milling processes.