Board Feet Calculator — nominal vs actual
Board feet, linear feet and cost for framing lumber, showing both the nominal size you are billed for and the actual surfaced size you build with.
Board Feet Calculator — nominal vs actual
Board feet are billed on the nominal size, but you build with the actual size. A 2×4 is 1-1/2" × 3-1/2". This shows both, because mixing them up is how orders come out wrong.
| Nominal (what you are billed for) | — |
|---|---|
| Actual (what you build with) | — |
| Board feet, one piece | — |
| Board feet, total | — |
| With waste | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
| Linear feet | — |
A board foot is 144 cubic inches of nominal lumber: nominal thickness (in) × nominal width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12. Softwood is sold this way even though it is surfaced smaller — a nominal 2×4 finishes at 1-1/2" × 3-1/2", a 1× board at 3/4" thick, and nominal widths of 6" and over lose 3/4" rather than 1/2". Those surfaced sizes are the S4S dry dimensions in the American Softwood Lumber Standard; rough-sawn and green stock differ, so measure what the yard actually hands you before cutting a tight fit.