Board feet is how hardwood lumber is priced and sold.
One board foot = 1″ thick × 12″ wide × 12″ long.
Enter your cut list below — thickness, width, length, and quantity — and get your total instantly, with waste factored in.
Step 1
Enter your cut list
Qty
Thickness
Width (in)
Length (ft)
+ inches
Board Ft
Tip: use the Part Name column to track legs, rails, panels, etc.
Step 2
Waste factor & price
$/ bf
Results
Net Board Feet
—
exact cut list total
Buy This Much
—
with 20% waste
Estimated Cost
—
Cut List Breakdown
Part
Thickness
W × L
Qty
BF / piece
Total BF
Why 20% waste?
Hardwood lumber has knots, checks, wane, and rough surfaces to plane away. 20% is the standard for clear projects; 15% works for rough/rustic work; 25–30% for figured or highly selective material.
Rough vs. S4S thickness
Rough lumber is sold at nominal thickness (4/4 = 1″). After planing, you'll lose ⅛–¼″. If you need ¾″ finished thickness, buy 4/4 rough and plan accordingly.
Buying in board feet
Hardwood dealers sell by the board foot. Home centers sell softwood by the linear foot at fixed dimensions (2×4, 1×6, etc.) — board feet aren't usually relevant there.