Plan your next woodworking project with a quick lumber volume estimate. Enter thickness, width, and length to calculate board feet before you buy hardwood, rough-cut boards, or wood for a custom handmade piece.
Free Lumber Calculator
Use inches for all three measurements. For a piece measured in feet, multiply the feet by 12 before entering the length.
Board feet estimate lumber volume. Your final quantity may vary based on milling loss, defects, offcuts, grain direction, and project layout.
The Basics
A board foot measures the total amount of wood in a piece of lumber. It is different from length alone because it also accounts for thickness and width.
Board feet are commonly used when buying hardwood lumber, live edge slabs, and rough-cut boards, especially when pieces vary in size.
When every measurement is in inches, use the standard board foot formula below.
Planning Notes
Plan for offcuts, sanding, routing, defects, and mistakes. Many projects benefit from buying a little more than the exact calculation.
Rough lumber and finished lumber may not measure the same. Use the actual dimensions when accuracy matters.
Boards with special grain, live edges, knots, or resin features may need layout room beyond the simple board foot total.
For custom pieces, send your idea and desired size. A handmade project may need different material planning than a standard board.
Custom Work
Whether you are planning a woodworking build or dreaming up a handmade piece for your home, 5280 Sawdust & Ink brings natural materials, color, and craft together in Denver.
