Board Footage What is board footage How to Calculate it Example of calculating project costs with board footage.

Measurements and Pricing Lumber may be priced and sold: By the piece – Pre priced for each piece. By the lineal foot – Common way material is sold at large home centers. Priced at a set width per foot By the square foot (composites and plywood). By the board foot. When calculating board feet always use the nominal size or in the case of hardwoods, the actual rough size.

Board Feet Board Feet can be calculated in several ways. A board foot represents 144 cubic inches. # of pieces x Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (in.) # of pieces x Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (ft.)* Divided by 144 Divided by 12

Measurements and Pricing: Board Foot Examples 12” 1” 144 cu. Inches 1 Board Foot 6” 24” 1” 144 cu. Inches =1 Board Foot 36” 4” 1” 144 cu. Inches =1 Board Foot 2” 12” 6” 144 cu.in. 1 bd.ft.

Board Foot Calculations A “piece” of mahogany measuring 1 inch thick, 9½ inches wide and 36 inches long would contain how many board feet. # of pieces x T” x W” x L” = 1 x 1” x 9½” x 36” = 342” = Board Feet Or # of pieces x T” x W” x L’ = 1 x 1” x 9½” x 3’ = 28.5 = Board Feet

A “piece” of dressed yellow pine measuring ¾ inch thick, 5½ inches wide and 12 foot long would contain how many board feet. # of pieces x T” x W” x L” = 1 x 1” x 6” x 144” = 864” = 6 Board Feet Or # of pieces x T” x W” x L’ = 1 x 1” x 6” x 12’ = 72 = 6 Board Feet Board Foot Calculations

Figuring out the cost of a project can be done easily now you know how to calculate a board foot. Cost comes from the total board feet of a piece and gets multiplied by the cost per board foot(BF) Ex: 6.5 bf of material multiplied by the cost of Oak $3.25 per foot 6.5 x 3.25 = $21.12 material cost

Project Costs Using a bill of materials for a project will give an accurate estimate on how much it will cost to build it. Price of material will vary depending on how easy the material is to get. When completing the bill of materials round up all sizes to even numbers so calculations are easier.

Sample Project PART NAME SIZEPiecesPieces Board Footage Calculation # of board feet Cost End3/4x 14x 11 ¼22 x 1 x 14 x X 1.25$2.88 Front Brace ¾ x 1 ¾ x 1822 x 1 x 2 x x 1.25$.63 Rear brace ¾ x 1 ¾ x 1811 x 1 x 2 x x 1.25$.32 Step¾ x 7 ½ x 1922 x 1 x 8 x x 1.25$2.63 Total BF 5.15 Total Cost $6 46 This is a sample project to calculate cost. $1.25 BF BF= # pcs x t x L x W / 144

Project Costs Using a bill of materials for a step stool for example. The project will be made from Pine Cost is $1.25 per BF PART NAME SIZEPieces Board Footage Calculation # of board feet Cost End3/4x 14x 11 ¼22 x 1 x 14 x X 1.25$2.88 Front Brace¾ x 1 ¾ x 1822 x 1 x 2 x x 1.25$.63 Rear brace¾ x 1 ¾ x 1811 x 1 x 2 x x 1.25$.32 Step¾ x 7 ½ x 1922 x 1 x 8 x x 1.25$2.63 Total BF 5.15 Total Cost $6 46