Board Foot Chart
Look up board feet for any common lumber size without doing the math. Softwood (nominal 1× through 8×) and hardwood (4/4 through 8/4) tables covered — plus a log-rule comparison for standing timber.
Softwood 1× Board Feet Chart
Nominal 1× lumber (1×4, 1×6, 1×8, etc.). Read down by width, across by length. Actual thickness after drying is ¾", but BF math uses nominal 1".
| Size / Length | 4 ft | 6 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 14 ft | 16 ft | 20 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1×2 | 0.67 | 1.0 | 1.33 | 1.67 | 2.0 | 2.33 | 2.67 | 3.33 |
| 1×3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| 1×4 | 1.33 | 2.0 | 2.67 | 3.33 | 4.0 | 4.67 | 5.33 | 6.67 |
| 1×6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 |
| 1×8 | 2.67 | 4.0 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.0 | 9.33 | 10.67 | 13.33 |
| 1×10 | 3.33 | 5.0 | 6.67 | 8.33 | 10.0 | 11.67 | 13.33 | 16.67 |
| 1×12 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 |
Softwood 2× Board Feet Chart
The workhorse of framing lumber. Actual thickness after drying is 1½", but always use nominal 2 for BF math.
| Size / Length | 4 ft | 6 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 14 ft | 16 ft | 20 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2×2 | 1.33 | 2.0 | 2.67 | 3.33 | 4.0 | 4.67 | 5.33 | 6.67 |
| 2×3 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 |
| 2×4 | 2.67 | 4.0 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.0 | 9.33 | 10.67 | 13.33 |
| 2×6 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 |
| 2×8 | 5.33 | 8.0 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.0 | 18.67 | 21.33 | 26.67 |
| 2×10 | 6.67 | 10.0 | 13.33 | 16.67 | 20.0 | 23.33 | 26.67 | 33.33 |
| 2×12 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 | 24.0 | 28.0 | 32.0 | 40.0 |
Softwood 4× & 6× Board Feet Chart
| Size / Length | 4 ft | 6 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 16 ft | 20 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 | 5.33 | 8.0 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.0 | 21.33 | 26.67 |
| 4×6 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 | 24.0 | 32.0 | 40.0 |
| 4×8 | 10.67 | 16.0 | 21.33 | 26.67 | 32.0 | 42.67 | 53.33 |
| 6×6 | 12.0 | 18.0 | 24.0 | 30.0 | 36.0 | 48.0 | 60.0 |
| 6×8 | 16.0 | 24.0 | 32.0 | 40.0 | 48.0 | 64.0 | 80.0 |
| 8×8 | 21.33 | 32.0 | 42.67 | 53.33 | 64.0 | 85.33 | 106.67 |
Hardwood 4/4 – 8/4 Board Feet Chart
Hardwood thickness is expressed in quarters of an inch (rough). 4/4 = 1", 5/4 = 1¼", 6/4 = 1½", 8/4 = 2". Width and length as-measured on the actual board.
4/4 (1" thick, rough)
| Width / Length | 6 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 14 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6" | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| 8" | 4.0 | 5.33 | 6.67 | 8.0 | 9.33 |
| 10" | 5.0 | 6.67 | 8.33 | 10.0 | 11.67 |
| 12" | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 |
8/4 (2" thick, rough)
| Width / Length | 6 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 14 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6" | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 |
| 8" | 8.0 | 10.67 | 13.33 | 16.0 | 18.67 |
| 10" | 10.0 | 13.33 | 16.67 | 20.0 | 23.33 |
| 12" | 12.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 | 24.0 | 28.0 |
Log Board Feet — Doyle vs Scribner vs International
For a small-end diameter × 16-foot log, here's what each rule predicts:
| SED (in) | Doyle | Scribner | International ¼" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 36 | 55 | 75 |
| 12 | 64 | 85 | 115 |
| 14 | 100 | 120 | 150 |
| 16 | 144 | 166 | 180 |
| 18 | 196 | 215 | 235 |
| 20 | 256 | 280 | 300 |
| 24 | 400 | 430 | 455 |
| 30 | 676 | 720 | 750 |
Doyle penalizes small logs, International tracks modern band-sawmill output best. For live conversions, use the main calculator.
BF per Linear Foot — Quick Reference
Multiply "BF/LF" by the length in feet to get total board feet.
| Cross-section | BF/LF | Cross-section | BF/LF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1×2 | 0.167 | 2×4 | 0.667 |
| 1×4 | 0.333 | 2×6 | 1.000 |
| 1×6 | 0.500 | 2×8 | 1.333 |
| 1×8 | 0.667 | 2×10 | 1.667 |
| 1×10 | 0.833 | 2×12 | 2.000 |
| 1×12 | 1.000 | 4×4 | 1.333 |
| 4/4 × 8" | 0.667 | 4×6 | 2.000 |
| 8/4 × 8" | 1.333 | 6×6 | 3.000 |
Chart FAQ
Can I print this chart?
Yes — the page prints cleanly on letter/A4 paper. Try landscape for the wider tables.
Why do 2×6 and 1×12 both give 1.0 BF/LF?
Because 2 × 6 = 12 and 1 × 12 = 12 — the cross-section area is identical, so the volume per linear foot is identical.
Are these numbers exact or rounded?
Rounded to two decimals for readability. The underlying calculation is exact (e.g., 2×4×8 ÷ 12 = 5.333...).
Where's the 5/4 hardwood row?
Multiply the 4/4 row by 1.25. Or use the main calculator for arbitrary thicknesses.
Why are Doyle and International different for the same log?
They embed different assumptions about kerf, taper, and sawing pattern. See our Doyle and International ¼-inch pages for the details.