1. What is Board Footage?

Board footage is a measurement of lumber volume commonly used in North America. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches (12" × 12" × 1"). It's the standard unit for buying and selling hardwood lumber.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the board footage formula:

Where:

• \( BF \) — Board feet
• \( T \) — Thickness in inches
• \( W \) — Width in inches
• \( L \) — Length in feet

Explanation: The formula calculates the volume in cubic inches (thickness × width × length converted to inches) then divides by 144 (12 × 12) to get board feet.

3. Importance of Board Foot Calculation

Details: Accurate board footage calculation is essential for pricing lumber, estimating project costs, and comparing wood prices between suppliers.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter thickness and width in inches, length in feet. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the total board footage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How many board feet are in a 2x4?
A: A 2x4 that's 8 feet long: (2" × 4" × 8')/12 = 5.33 board feet (actual dimensions are 1.5" × 3.5" = 3.5 board feet).

Q2: What's the difference between board feet and linear feet?
A: Linear feet measures length only, while board feet measures volume (thickness × width × length).

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 divide by 12 in the formula?
A: Because one board foot is 144 cubic inches (12" × 12" × 1"), and the formula converts length from feet to inches.

Q5: Is board foot measurement used worldwide?
A: Primarily used in North America. Other countries typically use cubic meters or cubic feet for lumber volume.