How many board feet in a 2x4 8 feet long?

Carpentry & FramingHardwood & Lumber Sizing

Lumber Board Foot & Cost Calculator

Calculate total board feet (BF) and material lumber costs for rough-sawn and surfaced hardwood and softwood lumber.

Carpentry & Framing Field StandardsHardwood & Lumber Sizing

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Quick Summary & Key Answer

One board foot (BF) is a volume of lumber measuring 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long (144 cubic inches). The formula is: Board Feet = (Thickness in × Width in × Length ft) ÷ 12. A standard 2x6 board that is 10 feet long equals exactly 10.0 board feet.

1 Board Foot = 144 cubic inches.
1 MBF = 1,000 Board Feet (standard wholesale timber unit).
Rough-cut hardwood is measured in quarters of an inch (4/4 = 1", 8/4 = 2").

Interactive Calculator

Adjust inputs for real-time results

Thickness in Inches (Rough or S4S)inches

inches

Width in Inchesinches

inches

Length in Feetfeet

feet

Number of Identical Pieces

Price per Board Foot$/BF

$/BF

Calculated OutputLumber Volume Sized

Total Board Feet

10.00 BFboard feet

Board Feet Per Piece: 10.00 BF
Total Estimated Lumber Cost: $45.00
Cubic Feet Equivalent: 0.83 cu ft

Note: Formula: Board Feet = (Thickness in Inches × Width in Inches × Length in Feet) ÷ 12.

Hardwood Quarter Sizing

Hardwood sawmills measure rough thickness in quarters (e.g. 4/4 is 1" rough, surfaced to 3/4" final thickness).

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions regarding this calculation and code compliance

A 2x4 that is 8 feet long equals exactly 5.33 board feet (2 × 4 × 8 ÷ 12).