Advanced Calculators
Lumber Calculator - Calculate Board Feet & Wood Cost
Calculate board feet, linear feet, and total cost for lumber projects. Supports dimensional lumber, hardwoods, and custom sizes. Get accurate wood estimates with detailed material breakdown and cost analysis.
Use Lumber Calculator - Calculate Board Feet & Wood Cost to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
Your results will appear here.
About this tool
Our Lumber Calculator is the most comprehensive free tool for estimating lumber needs for woodworking and construction projects. Whether you're building a deck, framing a house, creating furniture, or working with fine hardwoods, this calculator provides accurate estimates of board feet, linear feet, and costs. Board feet is the standard unit of measurement for lumber in North America, representing a piece of wood 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick. Understanding board feet is essential for ordering lumber, comparing prices, and estimating project costs accurately.
The calculator supports both nominal and actual lumber dimensions. Nominal dimensions are the standard sizes you see at the lumber yard (2×4, 2×6, etc.), while actual dimensions are the true measurements after planing and drying (a 2×4 actually measures 1.5" × 3.5"). The tool automatically handles these conversions and provides results for both dimensional construction lumber and hardwood boards. It includes a waste factor recommendation (typically 10-15% extra) to account for cuts, defects, and mistakes, ensuring you order enough material the first time.
Cost estimation features help you compare prices between suppliers and calculate total project budgets. You can enter prices per board foot (common for hardwoods), per linear foot (common for trim), or per piece (common for dimensional lumber). The calculator shows comprehensive breakdowns including total board feet, total linear feet, total cubic feet, number of pieces, and total cost with and without waste. This makes it easy to compare quotes from different suppliers and make cost-effective purchasing decisions.
All calculations follow industry-standard lumber measurement practices used by professional carpenters, contractors, and woodworkers. The tool is completely free, requires no registration, and works entirely in your browser without sending data to any server. Perfect for DIY woodworkers, contractors, furniture makers, and anyone working with lumber who needs quick, accurate material estimates.
Usage examples
2×4 Studs for Framing
8 ft long, 2×4 nominal (1.5"×3.5" actual), qty: 50
Board feet: 133.33, Linear feet: 400, Total: ~50 studs
Hardwood for Furniture
8 ft long, 6" wide, 1" thick, qty: 10
Board feet: 40.00, Linear feet: 80, Cost varies by species
Deck Boards
12 ft long, 2×6 nominal (1.5"×5.5" actual), qty: 30
Board feet: 247.50, Linear feet: 360, ~30 boards
Trim Molding
8 ft long, 3.5" wide, 0.5" thick, qty: 20
Board feet: 23.33, Linear feet: 160, ~20 pieces
How to use
- Enter the length of each board in feet
- Enter the width in inches (actual or nominal)
- Enter the thickness in inches (actual or nominal)
- Specify the quantity of boards needed
- Enter the price per board foot or per board
- View instant results showing board feet, linear feet, and total cost
Benefits
- Accurate board feet calculations for any lumber size
- Automatic conversion between nominal and actual dimensions
- Built-in waste factor (10-15%) for realistic estimates
- Support for dimensional lumber and hardwoods
- Multiple pricing options: per board foot, linear foot, or piece
- Instant calculations as you type
- Cost comparison between different lumber options
- Mobile-friendly for on-site estimates
- No registration required - completely free
- Industry-standard lumber measurement formulas
- Helps prevent over-ordering or under-ordering
- Detailed breakdown of all measurements
FAQs
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of measurement for lumber volume. It represents a piece of wood that is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches). To calculate board feet: (Length in feet × Width in inches × Thickness in inches) ÷ 12. This is the standard measurement used for pricing lumber, especially hardwoods.
What is the difference between nominal and actual lumber sizes?
Nominal dimensions are the rough-cut size before planing and drying (like 2×4 or 2×6). Actual dimensions are the true measurements after processing. For example, a nominal 2×4 actually measures 1.5" × 3.5", and a 2×6 measures 1.5" × 5.5". Always use actual dimensions for precise calculations.
How much waste factor should I add?
For most projects, add 10-15% extra lumber for waste. This accounts for cuts, defects, warping, and mistakes. Complex projects with many cuts may need 15-20% waste factor. For expensive hardwoods, careful planning can reduce waste to 5-10%, but always add some buffer.
How do I calculate the cost of lumber?
Lumber pricing varies by method: hardwoods are typically sold by board foot, construction lumber by piece, and trim by linear foot. Calculate total board feet, apply the appropriate price, and add waste factor. Always compare prices between suppliers using the same unit of measurement.
How many 2×4s do I need for a wall?
For standard 16" on-center framing, divide the wall length in feet by 1.33 to get the number of studs. Add studs for corners, door/window framing, and top/bottom plates. For example, a 20-foot wall needs about 15 studs plus plates. Always add 10% extra for waste and mistakes.
What are the standard lumber lengths?
Common lumber lengths are 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 feet. Some suppliers carry 20 and 24-foot lengths. Longer boards cost more per foot but reduce waste. Choose lengths that minimize cutting and waste for your project. Most suppliers charge a premium for lengths over 16 feet.
Related tools
View all toolsConcrete Calculator - Calculate Concrete Volume & Cost
Calculate concrete volume, bags needed, and total cost for your construction project. Supports slabs, footings, columns, stairs, and circular areas.
Advanced CalculatorsDeck Calculator - Calculate Boards, Joists, Posts & Cost
Calculate complete deck materials including decking boards, joists, beams, posts, footings, and hardware. Get accurate estimates with detailed material breakdown and total cost.
Advanced CalculatorsFence Calculator - Calculate Posts, Panels & Cost
Calculate fence materials including posts, panels, rails, pickets, and total cost. Supports wood, vinyl, chain link, and custom fencing. Get accurate estimates with detailed material breakdown.
Advanced Calculators