The Ultimate Board Feet Calculator
Welcome to the most comprehensive board feet calculator for woodworking, sawmilling, and construction projects. Whether you’re working with standard sawn lumber or estimating the yield from a log, this free tool provides instant and accurate calculations. Use our lumber calculator for project planning and cost estimation, or switch to the log calculator to see how much usable lumber is in your trees.
Calculate Board Feet for Sawn Lumber
Estimate Board Feet in a Log
How Our Board Feet Calculator Works
Calculating board feet is essential for accurately purchasing lumber and avoiding waste. While our calculator does the work for you, understanding the process is key for any woodworker. Follow these simple steps:
- Measure the Thickness: Using a tape measure, find the thickness of the board in inches.
- Measure the Width: Measure the width of the board in inches.
- Measure the Length: Measure the length of the board. You can use either feet or inches for the calculation.
- Apply the Formula: The standard formula for board feet is:
- If Length is in Feet:
(Thickness" × Width" × Length') / 12 - If Length is in Inches:
(Thickness" × Width" × Length") / 144
- If Length is in Feet:
Our board feet calculator handles both length conversions automatically, making project planning simple and error-free.
Board Feet in a Log: Understanding the Formulas
Estimating the usable lumber in a log is more complex than measuring a square board. Sawyers use a “log rule” or “log scale” to account for the round shape and the loss of wood from the saw kerf (the thickness of the blade). Our log calculator includes the three most common rules:
- Doyle Rule: This is the most common rule and is simple to calculate. It is known for underestimating the yield on small logs and overestimating on very large logs. It is the default in our log calculator.
- Scribner Rule: This rule is based on diagrams of how many 1-inch boards can be sawn from different diameter logs. It is generally considered more accurate than the Doyle rule, especially for logs of average size.
- International 1/4″ Rule: This formula-based rule is the most accurate as it accounts for the gradual tapering of a log and a consistent 1/4-inch saw kerf. It often gives the highest and most realistic yield estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a board foot?
A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber, representing a piece of wood that is one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick (144 cubic inches). The plural is board feet, and it’s the standard measurement for selling hardwood and rough-sawn lumber.
What is the difference between board feet and linear feet?
Board feet measure volume (the total amount of wood), while linear feet measure only length. A 10-foot long 2×12 has the same linear footage as a 10-foot long 2×4, but the 2×12 has significantly more board feet because it contains more wood.
How many board feet are in a 2x4x8?
Using a board feet calculator or the formula, a standard 8-foot long 2×4 has 5.33 board feet. The calculation is (2 inches × 4 inches × 8 feet) / 12 = 5.33 BF.
What is the best board feet calculator?
The best board feet calculator is one that is fast, free, accurate, and versatile. This calculator is designed to be the ultimate tool by allowing you to calculate board feet for multiple boards at once, estimate project costs, and even estimate the board feet in a log using different log rules.
