Calculate board feet, linear feet, and total cost for your lumber project.
Note: For dimensional lumber (2x4), use actual sizes (e.g., 1.5" x 3.5").
Nominal vs. Actual: Lumber is often sold by "nominal" size (2x4), but the "actual" size is smaller (1.5" x 3.5"). Always calculate using actual dimensions for accuracy.
Hardwoods: Typically sold by the Board Foot. This measures volume.
Softwoods (Construction): Typically sold by the Linear Foot. This measures length only.
A board foot is a unit of volume for lumber. It represents a piece of wood that is 12 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 1 inch thick.
Formula: $Thickness (in) \times Width (in) \times Length (ft) \div 144$
Multiply the total board feet by the price per board foot.
Example: 100 Board Feet at $4.00/BF = $400.00.
Use Linear Feet when buying dimensional lumber (like studs, joists, or fencing rails) where the thickness and width are standard and don't affect the pricing logic per unit of length.