Last updated October 5, 2026 · Report an error
Lumber is typically priced per board foot — a unit of volume, not just length — so estimating a project's total cost means first finding the total board feet across every piece.
This calculator takes your board dimensions, quantity, and price per board foot, and gives you both the total board feet and the total cost.
How it works
Enter the thickness, width, and length of a single board, how many pieces you need, and the price per board foot. The tool applies the standard board-foot formula to each piece, multiplies by quantity, then multiplies by the price to get a total cost.
- Enter thickness (in).
- Enter width (in).
- Enter length (ft).
- Enter quantity.
- Enter price per board foot ($).
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
20 pieces of 2×6 lumber
20 pieces of 1.5"×5.5" lumber, 8 feet long, at $4.50 per board foot, comes to 110 total board feet and $495.
Who should use it
- Budgeting for a lumber order before a construction or woodworking project.
- Comparing total cost between different lumber sizes or suppliers.
Industry applications
- Residential construction and carpentry
- Woodworking and furniture making
Advantages
- Combines the board-foot calculation and cost into a single step.
- Works for any board size, not just standard dimensional lumber.
Limitations
- Doesn't account for waste, cuts, or price variation between different wood species/grades beyond the price you enter.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing lumber prices by linear foot instead of board foot, which doesn't account for differences in thickness or width between products.
- Forgetting that nominal lumber dimensions (like "2×6") are larger than the actual finished dimensions (typically 1.5"×5.5") — use actual dimensions for an accurate board-foot calculation.
Best practices
- Use actual (finished) lumber dimensions rather than nominal ("2×6"-style) dimensions for the most accurate board-foot and cost calculation.
Tips
- Lumber prices can vary significantly by species and grade — get a current price per board foot from your specific supplier rather than assuming a fixed rate.