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Ten Things You Maybe Didn't Know About the Board Foot

1. A Board Foot is all about lumber

This unit is tailor-made for measuring wood. One board foot is the volume of a one-foot length of board that's 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick. It's super handy for carpenters, woodworkers, and anyone knee-deep in sawdust.

2. It’s been around since the 1600s

People have been using the board foot for centuries—back when ships were made of wood and nails were rare. It's an old-school unit that stuck around because it’s just that useful.

3. Board feet are about volume, not surface area

Even though it sounds like it might be a flat measurement, the board foot measures **volume**. So it helps account for both thickness and size, unlike square feet.

4. The formula is easy: (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 144

To calculate board feet, multiply the thickness (in inches) by the width (in inches) by the length (in inches), then divide by 144. That 144 comes from 12×12—converting square inches to square feet.

5. Thickness matters—a lot

A 1-inch-thick board that's 12 inches wide and 12 inches long is 1 board foot. But if that board is 2 inches thick? You now have 2 board feet, even if it’s the same length and width. Chunkier wood = more board feet.

6. Hardwood and softwood are both measured this way

Whether you’re buying dense oak or soft pine, lumber yards usually price wood by the board foot. It levels the playing field when comparing different types of lumber.

7. Not all lumber is sold in full board foot sizes

Lumber is often cut in lengths or dimensions that don’t come out to a neat 1 board foot, so you’ll see fractional values all the time. Expect a lot of decimals and rounding at the lumber yard.

8. It’s often used in pricing and inventory

Suppliers use board feet to determine how much wood they’re selling and how much to charge. It’s a way to price lumber fairly, based on actual material—not just length or width.

9. It’s mostly used in North America

Like many imperial-based units, the board foot is primarily used in the U.S. and Canada. Metric countries typically measure wood in cubic meters or linear meters instead.

10. There's a rough “cheat” rule of thumb

If you're out in the wild with no calculator, here’s a trick: For a 1-inch-thick board, just multiply the width (in inches) by the length (in feet) and divide by 12. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough for quick estimates.