How to Calculate Board Feet

One board foot equals a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 12 inches long. The formula is: thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft), divided by 12. Multiply the result by the number of boards to get your total.

Why Lumber Is Sold in Board Feet

Board footage lets buyers compare the actual wood volume across different lumber dimensions, which is especially useful when pricing hardwoods sold by the board foot rather than by linear foot.