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How to Calculate Board Feet
Formula
A board foot is a unit of lumber volume equal to 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long (144 cubic inches). It is the standard pricing unit for hardwoods and specialty lumber.
To calculate board feet: multiply thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12.
Common use cases:
- Lumber cost estimation
- Framing material orders
- Woodworking project planning
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. David Park
Applied Mathematician, PhD Mathematics
David holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from MIT. He has published research on numerical methods and computational algorithms used in engineering and scientific calculators.
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