Board Foot Chart

What Is a Board Foot Chart?

A board foot chart is a pre-calculated reference table that shows the board footage for common lumber sizes at standard lengths. Instead of applying the board foot formula each time — (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 12 — you look up the size and length combination and read the result directly. Charts like this one are posted at sawmills, lumber yards, and job sites as a quick reference for buyers, builders, and woodworkers.

The chart above covers 16 standard nominal sizes (from 1×2 to 4×6) across 9 lengths (6 ft through 16 ft). Every value uses nominal dimensions — the trade names used when ordering lumber, not the actual physical measurements after milling. This matches how most lumber yards tally and price their stock.

For a single one-off calculation at any size or length, including actual (surfaced) dimensions, use the Board Foot Calculator instead. The chart is most useful when you already know your sizes and want to quickly look up a value, verify a supplier's tally, or scan multiple sizes without re-entering data.

How to Read a Board Foot Chart

Reading the chart is straightforward once you understand what each cell represents: the number shown is the board feet for one board of that size and length. To use it effectively:

1. Find your size in the left column. Sizes are listed as Thickness × Width in nominal inches. A "2×6" in the chart is tallied at 2" × 6" regardless of the actual measured dimensions.
2. Read across to your length column. Lengths are in feet. If your board length falls between columns — for example, 13 feet — calculate the value directly using the formula or interpolate between the 12 ft and 14 ft columns.
3. The cell value is BF per board. Multiply by your quantity to get total board feet. If you need 25 boards of 2×8×12, find the 2×8 / 12 ft cell (16.00 BF) and multiply: 25 × 16.00 = 400 BF.
4. To price the order, multiply total board feet by the price per board foot. At $4.50/BF, 400 BF costs $1,800 before tax and delivery.

The board feet per linear foot table below the main chart serves a different purpose: it gives you a multiplier so you can calculate any length mentally. For a 2×6, the multiplier is 1.000 BF/LF — meaning each linear foot of 2×6 equals exactly 1 board foot. For a 2×4, it is 0.667 BF/LF. This is useful when measuring from a tape rather than working from standard lengths.

Nominal vs Actual Dimensions in a Board Foot Chart

The most important caveat when using any board foot chart is that all values assume nominal dimensions, not actual measurements. When lumber is described as a "2×4," it is actually 1½" thick and 3½" wide after milling and kiln drying. A nominal 2×4×8 contains 5.33 nominal board feet, but only 3.50 board feet if you measure its true dimensions.

This distinction matters because different buyers need different numbers. A framing contractor ordering 2×4s from a home center pays for nominal board feet and should use this chart directly. An engineer calculating dead loads or a furniture maker calculating true volume should use actual dimensions — and for that, the Board Foot Calculator with the "Actual" dimension mode is the right tool.

In practice, you will rarely need to switch between nominal and actual for routine lumber purchasing decisions. The industry standard is to buy, sell, and tally softwood by nominal board feet. Where actual dimensions matter — structural engineering, weight estimates, custom joinery — confirm the basis with your supplier before calculating costs.

Hardwood Lumber and the Board Foot Chart

Hardwood lumber is sold by board feet, but the measurement conventions differ from softwood. Instead of nominal sizes like "2×4," hardwood thickness is expressed in quarters: 4/4 (one inch), 5/4 (1¼ inch), 6/4 (1½ inch), 8/4 (two inches), and so on. A board described as "8/4 Walnut, 10 inches wide, 8 feet long" would contain: (2 × 10 × 8) ÷ 12 = 13.33 board feet.

Hardwood board footage is also commonly measured under NHLA (National Hardwood Lumber Association) rules. Under NHLA, thickness rounds up to the nearest quarter inch and length rounds down to the nearest whole foot. A board that measures 1.1" thick is tallied at 1.25" (5/4). A board that measures 9 feet 11 inches long is tallied at 9 feet. These rounding rules are built into our Board Foot Calculator via the NHLA tally toggle. For chart lookups, use the nearest quarter-inch thickness and round the length down.

Hardwood widths are often given as the average of the two ends for tapered or live-edge slabs. For rough-sawn or live-edge stock, measure the width at both ends and average them, then apply the formula. The chart values are most directly useful for standard dimensional hardwood stock where width is consistent along the board's length.

Common Mistakes When Using a Board Foot Chart

• Forgetting to multiply by quantity. The chart shows board feet for one board. If you need 40 pieces of 2×6×10, the chart shows 10.00 BF per board — multiply by 40 to get the 400 BF you actually need.
• Looking up actual dimensions instead of nominal. If you measure a 2×4 and enter its actual 1.5"×3.5" — which doesn't appear in the chart — you may pick the wrong row. The chart uses nominal trade sizes, so look up "2×4" not "1.5×3.5."
• Not adding waste. Chart values are exact board footage with no allowance for trimming, defects, or off-cuts. Always add at least 10% when placing your order.
• Using the chart for NHLA hardwood without adjusting thickness. If you are buying rough hardwood, make sure the thickness in the left column matches the NHLA-rounded value, not the raw measured thickness.
• Assuming the chart covers all sizes. This chart covers the most common nominal softwood and dimensional lumber sizes. For large timbers (6×6, 6×8, 8×8) or non-standard widths, use the calculator.

When to Use a Chart vs the Calculator

Use this chart when you already know you are working with standard nominal sizes and want a quick lookup without entering any data. It is ideal for job-site reference, quick supplier checks, and working through a material list that uses only the sizes shown.

Use the Board Foot Calculator when you need to work with non-standard dimensions, actual (surfaced) measurements, metric inputs, NHLA hardwood tally, pricing in $/BF or $/MBF, waste-adjusted quantities, or a shareable result. The calculator also handles mixed quantities across multiple board sizes via the Lumber Estimator.

For reference-only use — verifying a delivery tally, answering a quick "how many BF in a 2×8×14?" question — the chart is faster. For project planning, purchasing, or anything where accuracy and pricing matter, the interactive calculator is the better tool.