Board-foot calculator

Hardwood is usually sold by the board foot: one board foot is 1″ × 12″ × 12″ (144 cubic inches). Enter your plan's cut list to estimate how much lumber to buy and what it will cost.

Thickness (inches)

Width (inches)

Length

Length unitfeetinches

Number of boards

Waste allowance (%)

Use 0 for none, or your own allowance.

Price per board foot (optional)

Your estimate

How to use it with a plan

1. Take each line of the plan's cut list and enter it here. Use nominal thickness for rough-sawn hardwood (for example 4/4 = 1″).
2. Add 15–30% for waste, defects and mistakes; more for figured or knotty stock.
3. Check the plan's dimensions against actual lumber sizes. A US "2×4" is 1½″ × 3½″. Plans that assume nominal sizes are a common cause of joints that will not close.

UK and Australian timber is often sold by the linear metre or cubic metre. 1 board foot ≈ 0.00236 m³.

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