Total Board Feet
4.00
BF per Piece
4.00
Boards
1
Total Cost
$20
4.00
4.00
$20
$20
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A board foot (bf) is a unit of volume for lumber equal to 144 cubic inches, or a piece 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. It is the standard unit used by lumber yards and hardwood dealers for pricing rough-sawn lumber.
Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12. For example, a board that is 1" thick, 6" wide, and 8 feet long contains (1 × 6 × 8) / 12 = 4.00 board feet.
Linear feet measures only length, while board feet measures volume (thickness × width × length). A 1×6 board and a 2×12 board can both be 8 linear feet, but the 2×12 has 16 board feet vs. 4 board feet for the 1×6.
Hardwood lumber comes in random widths and lengths unlike dimensional softwood (2×4s). Board feet provides a standardized volume measurement so dealers can price lumber fairly regardless of each board's unique dimensions.
Weight varies by species. Oak averages 3.58 lbs/bf, Maple 3.75 lbs/bf, Walnut 2.88 lbs/bf, Cherry 2.92 lbs/bf, Pine 2.33 lbs/bf, Cedar 1.83 lbs/bf, and Poplar 2.50 lbs/bf. These are approximate kiln-dried densities.
| Wood Species | Weight (lbs/bf) | Typical Price/bf |
|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 3.58 | $4.50–$6.00 |
| Hard Maple | 3.75 | $5.00–$7.00 |
| Black Walnut | 2.88 | $8.00–$12.00 |
| Cherry | 2.92 | $6.00–$8.50 |
| Poplar | 2.50 | $3.00–$4.50 |
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Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (1 × 6 × 8) / 12 = 4.00 bf. Total = 4.00 × 10 = 40.00 bf. Cost = 40.00 × $5.00 = $200.00.
Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (2 × 8 × 10) / 12 = 13.33 bf. Total = 13.33 × 5 = 66.67 bf. Cost = 66.67 × $8.50 = $566.67. Weight = 66.67 × 2.88 = 192.0 lbs.
Inputs
Result
BF per piece = (1 × 5 × 3) / 12 = 1.25 bf. Total = 1.25 × 12 = 15.00 bf. Cost = 15.00 × $7.25 = $108.75. Weight = 15.00 × 2.92 = 43.8 lbs.
Board Feet = (T × W × L) / 12Calculates the volume of a single board in board feet. Thickness and width are in inches, length is in feet.
Where:
T= Thickness in inchesW= Width in inchesL= Length in feet12= Divisor to convert cubic inches to board feetTotal BF = BF per Piece × Number of BoardsMultiplies the board feet per piece by the number of boards to get total volume.
Where:
BF per Piece= Board feet in one boardNumber of Boards= Quantity of boardsWeight = Total BF × Density (lb/bf)Estimates total lumber weight using species-specific density data for kiln-dried wood.
Where:
Total BF= Total board feet of lumberDensity= Pounds per board foot for the selected speciesOne board foot equals exactly 144 cubic inches — the volume of a 12" × 12" × 1" piece of lumber. The working formula is T × W × L / 12, where thickness and width are in inches and length is in feet. A board that measures 2" thick, 8" wide, and 10 ft long contains (2 × 8 × 10) / 12 = 13.33 board feet.
Hardwood thickness uses quarter notation: 4/4 means 1" rough, 5/4 means 1.25", 6/4 means 1.5", 8/4 means 2", and 12/4 means 3". These are rough-sawn measurements before planing. A 4/4 board planes down to approximately 13/16" (0.8125"), but you pay for the full 1" thickness in board feet.
Most lumber yards round up partial board feet and charge per whole BF, so a 3.7 BF board is invoiced at 4 BF. Always round up when estimating project costs to avoid surprises at checkout. Add 15–25% waste factor for jointing, planing, and cutoff allowance.
| Quarter Notation | Rough Thickness | Surfaced (S2S) | BF per 6" × 8’ Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 1" | 13/16" | 4.00 |
| 5/4 | 1.25" | 1-1/16" | 5.00 |
| 6/4 | 1.5" | 1-5/16" | 6.00 |
| 8/4 | 2" | 1-3/4" | 8.00 |
| 12/4 | 3" | 2-3/4" | 12.00 |
Measure thickness in inches
Use the nominal rough-sawn thickness (e.g., 1" for 4/4, 2" for 8/4). Do not use the surfaced thickness.
Measure width in inches
Measure at the narrowest point of the board. Random-width hardwood ranges from 3" to 12"+.
Measure length in feet
Round up to the next whole foot. A 7’6" board counts as 8 feet.
Apply the formula
Board Feet = (T × W × L) / 12. For a 4/4 board 6" wide and 8 ft long: (1 × 6 × 8) / 12 = 4.00 BF.
Hard maple weighs 3.75 lbs per board foot kiln-dried — making it the heaviest common domestic hardwood. A 100 BF maple order tips the scale at 375 lbs, more than most pickup truck beds handle comfortably without load distribution. Red oak (3.58 lbs/BF) is close behind, while cedar at 1.83 lbs/BF weighs less than half as much per board foot.
Green (fresh-cut) lumber can weigh 40–60% more than kiln-dried stock. A green oak board at 5+ lbs/BF means that same 100 BF order could exceed 500 lbs. Always confirm moisture content before planning transport — kiln-dried (6–8% MC) versus air-dried (12–15% MC) versus green (30%+ MC) affects weight dramatically.
Weight matters beyond transport. The beam size calculator uses species density to estimate dead load when sizing structural members, and furniture makers need weight data to ensure table bases and mounting hardware can support the finished piece.
| Species | Kiln-Dried (lbs/BF) | Typical Price/BF | 100 BF Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Maple | 3.75 | $5.00–$7.00 | 375 lbs |
| Red Oak | 3.58 | $4.50–$6.00 | 358 lbs |
| Cherry | 2.92 | $6.00–$8.50 | 292 lbs |
| Black Walnut | 2.88 | $8.00–$12.00 | 288 lbs |
| Poplar | 2.50 | $3.00–$4.50 | 250 lbs |
| Eastern White Pine | 2.33 | $2.50–$4.00 | 233 lbs |
| Western Red Cedar | 1.83 | $4.00–$6.50 | 183 lbs |
Always weigh lumber at the yard before loading. Kiln schedules vary, and a board at 10% MC weighs 5–7% more than one at 6% MC.
FAS (First and Seconds) grade hardwood commands $2–$4 more per board foot than #1 Common, but yields 83%+ clear-face cuttings compared to 67%+ for #1 Common. For a walnut table top project requiring 30 BF, upgrading from #1 Common at $8.50/BF to FAS at $11.00/BF adds $75 but saves hours of sorting and reduces waste from defects.
The NHLA (National Hardwood Lumber Association) grades are based on the percentage of clear cuttings obtainable from each board’s worst face. FAS boards must be at least 6" wide and 8’ long with 83%+ clear yield. #1 Common allows boards as narrow as 3" and as short as 4’, with 67%+ clear yield. #2 Common drops to 50% clear yield.
For painted or stained projects where grain appearance matters less, #1 Common or even #2 Common can save 30–50% on material cost. The deck calculator often uses #2 grade for framing lumber where knots and minor defects are hidden beneath decking boards.
| Grade | Min Width | Min Length | Clear Yield | Premium over #1 Common |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAS | 6" | 8’ | 83%+ | +$2–$4/BF |
| FAS One Face | 6" | 8’ | 83%+ (one face) | +$1–$3/BF |
| #1 Common | 3" | 4’ | 67%+ | Baseline |
| #2 Common | 3" | 4’ | 50%+ | –$1–$2/BF |
Ask for FAS One Face (F1F) grade when only one side of the board will be visible — it costs 15–25% less than full FAS.
A 15–25% waste factor is standard for hardwood projects depending on the grade purchased. With FAS lumber (83%+ clear), plan for 15% waste from jointing, planing, and end trimming. With #1 Common (67%+ clear), increase to 25% because more of each board will have defects to cut around.
Buying in bulk from a wholesale hardwood dealer typically saves $1–$3 per board foot compared to retail hobby-shop pricing. A 200 BF walnut order at $9.00/BF wholesale versus $12.00/BF retail saves $600 — enough to cover delivery fees. Many dealers offer free delivery on orders above 250–500 BF.
Before visiting the lumber yard, create a cut list with finished dimensions and add 1" to width and 2" to length for each piece to allow for jointing and trimming. Convert the total volume to board feet and apply the waste factor. This method ensures you buy exactly what you need without expensive return trips.
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Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026
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