Free Tool
Lumber Takeoff and Board Foot Calculator
Add each size and length on your cut list. Get the board feet, linear feet and piece count for every line and for the whole order, with a waste allowance.
Lumber Takeoff and Board Foot Calculator
Result
Preliminary planning only. This tool does not replace the drawings. The designer or engineer of record and the building permit set govern every size, span and detail.
Use this tool from any AI assistant
Paste this link into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity or any AI assistant and ask it to read the result.
Change the numbers in the link to match your job. The full list of tools is at /api/tools/.
How the calculator counts
- Board feet. Quantity times nominal thickness in inches times nominal width in inches times length in feet, divided by 12.
- Linear feet. Quantity times length in feet.
- Waste. Your percentage is added to the total board feet and linear feet. Piece counts are rounded up after waste.
- Actual size. The table lists the dressed size of each nominal size so that you can check thicknesses. Board feet always use the nominal size.
- No prices. This tool counts lumber only. Take the totals to your supplier for pricing.
This is arithmetic, with no code tables involved. This tool is for preliminary planning. The drawings and the building permit set govern.
Frequently asked questions
How many board feet are in a piece of lumber?
Thickness in inches times width in inches times length in feet, divided by 12. A 2x4 that is 8 feet long is 2 times 4 times 8 divided by 12, which is 5.33 board feet. Lumber is priced and sold on its nominal size, so the calculation uses the nominal dimensions.
What is the difference between nominal and actual size?
A 2x4 is nominally 2 by 4 inches but is dressed to 1-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches. Board feet are counted on the nominal size. The calculator also shows the actual cross-section so that you can check wall and floor thicknesses.
How do I count linear feet?
Linear feet is the length of each piece times the number of pieces. It is the usual unit for plates, studs and joists priced by the piece or by the length.
How much waste should I add?
Ten percent is a common starting point for simple framing. A layout with many angles, openings or short pieces may need more. Your supplier or estimator will set the figure for the project.
Does this include engineered lumber?
No. Board feet apply to sawn dimension lumber. LVL, I-joists and glulam are sold by the piece or by the lineal foot of a given section.
Is this a quote?
No. It is a planning tool with no prices. Contact us with your plans and we will arrange a free site visit.
For grades and species, read Framing Lumber Grades and Species.
Related: Wall framing calculator, Rough framing, Framing contractor.
More free tools are on the framing tools page.
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Want a framing quote?
Send your plans, photos or a description of the project. We will arrange a free site visit and return an itemized quote.
