Lumber Cost Estimator

Work out board feet for a stack of lumber and compare the total cost priced per board foot against priced per piece.

Worked example

Twenty 2x6 boards at 8 ft. Board feet per piece = 2 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12 = 8 board feet, so the stack is 160 board feet. At $1.50 per board foot the total is $240.00. At $11.00 per piece the total is $220.00, and that piece price works out to $1.38 per board foot, so per piece is cheaper here.

How it works

Board feet = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12, using nominal dimensions, which is the convention lumber is priced on. A nominal 2x6 actually measures about 1.5 in by 5.5 in after drying and planing, but board foot pricing still uses the nominal size. The implied rate divides the piece price by the board feet per piece, so the two pricing methods can be compared directly.

FAQ

Why is my rough-sawn hardwood calculated differently at the yard?
Some yards measure rough lumber by its actual rough dimensions before planing, and some apply a surfaced measure. Ask how the yard measures, then enter the dimensions they use.

Which pricing method is better?
Neither, inherently. Compare the per-piece price converted to a per-board-foot rate against the quoted board foot rate for the same species and grade, as the last result row does.

Estimates only. Mississippi Maple provides approximate cost estimates for planning. Prices vary by species, grade, and supplier; verify current pricing before purchasing.