Board feet per foot of length for common lumber sizes, with the formula — board feet is the unit hardwood lumber is priced and sold in.
Data verified 2026-09-29 · based on n/a — board feet is an arithmetic unit of volume, not tabulated reference data
| Nominal size[2] | Thickness in[2] | Width in[2] | Board feet per ft[1] | Linear feet per bd ft[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" × 2" # | 0.5 | 2 | 0.0833 | 12.00 |
| 1/2" × 4" # | 0.5 | 4 | 0.1667 | 6.00 |
| 1/2" × 6" # | 0.5 | 6 | 0.2500 | 4.00 |
| 1/2" × 8" # | 0.5 | 8 | 0.3333 | 3.00 |
| 1/2" × 10" # | 0.5 | 10 | 0.4167 | 2.40 |
| 1/2" × 12" # | 0.5 | 12 | 0.5000 | 2.00 |
| 5/8" × 2" # | 0.625 | 2 | 0.1042 | 9.60 |
| 5/8" × 4" # | 0.625 | 4 | 0.2083 | 4.80 |
| 5/8" × 6" # | 0.625 | 6 | 0.3125 | 3.20 |
| 5/8" × 8" # | 0.625 | 8 | 0.4167 | 2.40 |
| 5/8" × 10" # | 0.625 | 10 | 0.5208 | 1.92 |
| 5/8" × 12" # | 0.625 | 12 | 0.6250 | 1.60 |
| 3/4" × 2" # | 0.75 | 2 | 0.1250 | 8.00 |
| 3/4" × 4" # | 0.75 | 4 | 0.2500 | 4.00 |
| 3/4" × 6" # | 0.75 | 6 | 0.3750 | 2.67 |
| 3/4" × 8" # | 0.75 | 8 | 0.5000 | 2.00 |
| 3/4" × 10" # | 0.75 | 10 | 0.6250 | 1.60 |
| 3/4" × 12" # | 0.75 | 12 | 0.7500 | 1.33 |
| 1" × 2" # | 1 | 2 | 0.1667 | 6.00 |
| 1" × 4" # | 1 | 4 | 0.3333 | 3.00 |
| 1" × 6" # | 1 | 6 | 0.5000 | 2.00 |
| 1" × 8" # | 1 | 8 | 0.6667 | 1.50 |
| 1" × 10" # | 1 | 10 | 0.8333 | 1.20 |
| 1" × 12" # | 1 | 12 | 1.0000 | 1.00 |
| 1 1/4" × 2" # | 1.25 | 2 | 0.2083 | 4.80 |
| 1 1/4" × 4" # | 1.25 | 4 | 0.4167 | 2.40 |
| 1 1/4" × 6" # | 1.25 | 6 | 0.6250 | 1.60 |
| 1 1/4" × 8" # | 1.25 | 8 | 0.8333 | 1.20 |
| 1 1/4" × 10" # | 1.25 | 10 | 1.0417 | 0.96 |
| 1 1/4" × 12" # | 1.25 | 12 | 1.2500 | 0.80 |
| 1 1/2" × 2" # | 1.5 | 2 | 0.2500 | 4.00 |
| 1 1/2" × 4" # | 1.5 | 4 | 0.5000 | 2.00 |
| 1 1/2" × 6" # | 1.5 | 6 | 0.7500 | 1.33 |
| 1 1/2" × 8" # | 1.5 | 8 | 1.0000 | 1.00 |
| 1 1/2" × 10" # | 1.5 | 10 | 1.2500 | 0.80 |
| 1 1/2" × 12" # | 1.5 | 12 | 1.5000 | 0.67 |
| 2" × 2" # | 2 | 2 | 0.3333 | 3.00 |
| 2" × 4" # | 2 | 4 | 0.6667 | 1.50 |
| 2" × 6" # | 2 | 6 | 1.0000 | 1.00 |
| 2" × 8" # | 2 | 8 | 1.3333 | 0.75 |
| 2" × 10" # | 2 | 10 | 1.6667 | 0.60 |
| 2" × 12" # | 2 | 12 | 2.0000 | 0.50 |
| 3" × 2" # | 3 | 2 | 0.5000 | 2.00 |
| 3" × 4" # | 3 | 4 | 1.0000 | 1.00 |
| 3" × 6" # | 3 | 6 | 1.5000 | 0.67 |
| 3" × 8" # | 3 | 8 | 2.0000 | 0.50 |
| 3" × 10" # | 3 | 10 | 2.5000 | 0.40 |
| 3" × 12" # | 3 | 12 | 3.0000 | 0.33 |
| 4" × 2" # | 4 | 2 | 0.6667 | 1.50 |
| 4" × 4" # | 4 | 4 | 1.3333 | 0.75 |
| 4" × 6" # | 4 | 6 | 2.0000 | 0.50 |
| 4" × 8" # | 4 | 8 | 2.6667 | 0.38 |
| 4" × 10" # | 4 | 10 | 3.3333 | 0.30 |
| 4" × 12" # | 4 | 12 | 4.0000 | 0.25 |
Board feet is computed from nominal dimensions, which is the convention for hardwood lumber. A 2×4 is nominally 2 in × 4 in even though its dressed size is about 1.5 in × 3.5 in. Softwood dimension lumber is normally priced per linear foot instead.
board feet = (thickness × width × length, all in inches) ÷ 144board feet = (thickness × width × length in feet) ÷ 12
The 144 is the number of cubic inches in a board foot: 1 × 12 × 12. The second form is easier when the length is already in feet, which it usually is.
Board feet is calculated on nominal size — the size the lumber is called, not the size it measures. A 2×4 is nominally 2 in × 4 in, but its dressed dimensions are about 1.5 in × 3.5 in. The board foot calculation uses the nominal figures.
This is not the industry being sloppy: the nominal size is the size the piece was cut to before surfacing, and it is the basis on which hardwood is bought and sold. If you need to know what the piece physically measures — for a fit, or for estimating weight — use the dressed dimensions instead.
Softwood dimension lumber (2×4, 2×6 and so on) is normally priced per linear foot or per piece rather than per board foot. Board feet is the convention for hardwood sold by the board, and for rough-sawn stock.
Each data column on this page is tied to the source it came from. The numbers in square brackets correspond to the table headers above.
| # | Source | Type | Revision / method |
|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | Board feet and inverse | derived | board feet per foot = (thickness × width × 12) ÷ 144; linear feet per board foot = 1 ÷ that. |
| [2] | Board foot definition | derived | A board foot is 144 in³. Nominal thickness and width are the inputs; no standard body publishes a board foot table because every value is arithmetic. |
| Standard | Revision | What it covers on this page |
|---|---|---|
| No standard is involved | n/a — board feet is an arithmetic unit of volume, not tabulated reference data | every value on this page |
Cross-checked against:
Derived values — the following values on this page are calculated, not taken directly from the standard:
| Value | How it is derived |
|---|---|
| All values | Arithmetic from the board foot definition — see the formulas above. |
Nominal dimensions are used, consistent with lumber trade practice. Dressed (actual) dimensions are smaller and vary by surfacing and by mill.
Every value on this page is traceable to the sources listed above. If you use the data in a document, paper or report, cite it as:
Each row in the tables above also has a permanent link — hover a row and use the # link to cite a single value rather than the whole page.
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