Lumber & Woodwork
Board Foot Calculator
Find the board feet and cost of hardwood or rough lumber from thickness, width and length.
Open calculator
Lumber & Woodwork
BD FT Calculator
A fast board-foot (bd ft) calculator for standard dimensional lumber. Pick a nominal size, length and quantity to total a line on your lumber list.
What is a bd ft calculator?
“BD FT” is the standard abbreviation for board feet on lumber quotes and invoices. This version is built for framing and dimensional lumber, where sizes are nominal and lengths come in 2 ft steps.
How does it work?
It multiplies the nominal thickness and width by the length in feet and divides by 12, then multiplies by quantity. For rough hardwood or custom dimensions, use the full Board Foot Calculator.
What information is needed?
- Nominal size (e.g. 2×8)
- Length in feet
- Quantity
How to use the BD FT Calculator
- Pick the nominal size from your lumber list.
- Choose the length.
- Enter the quantity.
- Select Calculate and repeat for each line.
The formula
In plain terms, here is the calculation the tool runs:
bd ft = T × W × L ÷ 12 × Qty
- T × W
- Nominal size in inches
- L
- Length in feet
Worked example
Example
Twelve 2×8 joists, 12 ft long.
- 2 × 8 × 12 ÷ 12 = 16 bd ft each
- 16 × 12 = 192 bd ft
192 bd ft, or 144 linear feet.
Frequently asked questions
Why use nominal instead of actual size?
Lumber grading and wholesale pricing in North America use nominal dimensions by convention.
What is MBF?
Thousand board feet. A price of $900/MBF equals $0.90 per board foot.
How many bd ft in a 4×4×8?
4 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12 = 10.67 bd ft.
Related tools
All toolsRelated articles
All articles
How to Stop Bathroom Mirror From Fogging Up
Run the exhaust fan, wipe a thin soap film on the glass, or fit a heated pad behind the mirror, and the glass stays clear through a shower. This My Homesblogs guide shows how…
How to Remove Rust Stains From Bathtub Porcelain
Start gentle and work up: a baking soda paste lifts light marks, vinegar or lemon dissolves deeper iron, and an oxalic-acid cleaner clears what home mixtures leave behind. This My Homesblogs guide shows how…
How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Shower Glass Doors
You can learn how to remove hard water stains from shower glass doors with a 1:1 vinegar and dish soap spray, a 30-minute dwell, and a scrub — no chemicals needed. This My Homesblogs…