Lumber Calculator
Board feet, cost and how many boards to buy
Turn these numbers into a build plan.
- 11 boards
- 58.7 board feet
- 88 linear feet
Cut list: Lumber Calculator
- 11 x 2x4 x 8 ft58.67 bd ft, $44.00
- Board feet (nominal)58.67
- Board feet (actual size)38.5
- Linear feet88
- Pieces (with waste)11
- Volume0.091 m3
- Weightabout 83 lb
- Total cost$44.00
- Cost per board foot$0.75
- [ ] 2x4 x 8 ft11
- [ ] 2x4, 8 ft
- [ ] Spacers (stickers) for storage
Building a deck or fence? The deck lumber calculator and fence lumber calculator count joists, rails and pickets for you. Sheet goods go in the plywood sheet layout, and the drywall calculator covers the wall you just framed.
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Lumber list, 11 boards
11 x 2x4x8: 58.7 board feet, 88 linear feet, about $44.
- Materials
- $44
- Time
- 1 afternoon
- Level
- Easy
- 1
Price the list
Compare the per-piece price against per board foot; longer and wider boards cost more per foot.
- 2
Order or load up
Call ahead for large orders so the yard pulls the boards, or bring the list to the store.
- 3
Check the list at the yard
Sight down each board for crown, twist and wane, and skip any with large loose knots or splits.
- Boards
- 11
- Board feet
- 58.7
- Linear feet
- 88
- Est. cost
- $44
5 steps · 3 tools · 2 materials
2 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.
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How to calculate board feet
Board feet = thickness (in) x width (in) x length (ft) / 12. Worked example: a 12 ft 2x6 is 2 x 6 x 12 / 12 = 12 board feet nominal, or 1.5 x 5.5 x 12 / 12 = 8.25 board feet at its actual size. Lumberyards quote softwood on the nominal size, so price per board foot and the calculator's nominal total line up with their invoice.
- Write down the nominal size. Use the size the board is sold as, such as 2x6. Hardwood is sold by thickness in quarters: 4/4 is 1 in, 8/4 is 2 in.
- Multiply thickness by width. 2 x 6 = 12 square inches of end grain.
- Multiply by the length in feet. 12 x 12 ft = 144.
- Divide by 12. 144 / 12 = 12 board feet. Multiply by the number of boards, then add 10% for waste and defects.
Nominal vs actual lumber sizes and board feet per piece
| Nominal | Actual | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 16 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1x2 | 3/4" x 1-1/2" | 1.33 | 1.67 | 2.00 | 2.67 |
| 1x3 | 3/4" x 2-1/2" | 2.00 | 2.50 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
| 1x4 | 3/4" x 3-1/2" | 2.67 | 3.33 | 4.00 | 5.33 |
| 1x6 | 3/4" x 5-1/2" | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 |
| 1x8 | 3/4" x 7-1/4" | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.00 | 10.67 |
| 1x10 | 3/4" x 9-1/4" | 6.67 | 8.33 | 10.00 | 13.33 |
| 1x12 | 3/4" x 11-1/4" | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 16.00 |
| 2x2 | 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" | 2.67 | 3.33 | 4.00 | 5.33 |
| 2x3 | 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 |
| 2x4 | 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.00 | 10.67 |
| 2x6 | 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 16.00 |
| 2x8 | 1-1/2" x 7-1/4" | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.00 | 21.33 |
| 2x10 | 1-1/2" x 9-1/4" | 13.33 | 16.67 | 20.00 | 26.67 |
| 2x12 | 1-1/2" x 11-1/4" | 16.00 | 20.00 | 24.00 | 32.00 |
| 4x4 | 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.00 | 21.33 |
| 4x6 | 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" | 16.00 | 20.00 | 24.00 | 32.00 |
| 6x6 | 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" | 24.00 | 30.00 | 36.00 | 48.00 |
Price per board foot vs per piece
Home centers price dimensional lumber by the piece; hardwood dealers and many yards price by the board foot; trim, decking and fencing often go by the linear foot. To compare, divide the piece price by its board feet: a $4.00 2x4x8 is 5.33 board feet, $0.75 per board foot, while a $9.50 2x6x12 is 12 board feet, $0.79. Longer boards usually cost more per foot, so the cut list tab picks the shortest stock that fits each set of cuts.
How much lumber to frame a wall
One stud every 16 in plus one for the end, two king and two jack studs at each door or window, two extra studs at each corner and T, a bottom plate and a double top plate, and a doubled 2x header over each opening. A 20 ft wall 8 ft tall with one door and one window takes about 24 studs (with two corners) and 4 sixteen-foot plates, 199 board feet. The framing cheat sheet covers layout and nailing, and the lumber buying guide covers grades and picking boards. Spans for beams and joists are in the beam span calculator, stringers in the stair stringer calculator, and seasonal movement in the wood movement calculator.
Lumber calculator FAQ
How do I calculate board feet?
How many board feet in a 2x4x8?
What is the difference between a linear foot and a board foot?
How much waste should I add to a lumber order?
How much does a board foot of lumber cost?
Pressure-treated or untreated lumber?
Why is a 2x4 not 2 in by 4 in?
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