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board feet total
Lumber Cost Calculator
Add every board your project needs and price each one the way your lumberyard does — by the board foot, the linear foot, or per piece — to get the total cost. Accepts inches, feet (e.g. 8') or metric. Nothing is uploaded.
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Total lumber cost$0.00
estimated lumber cost
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boards total
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avg cost / board
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avg cost / board foot
How lumber pricing works
Lumber is sold three ways, and the same board can cost different amounts depending on which one your yard uses. Board foot (144 cubic inches) is how most hardwood is priced — wider and thicker boards cost more. Linear foot charges by length only, common for trim and dimensional stock. Per piece is the sticker price on softwood like 2×4s. Price each board the way you'll actually be billed, add quantities, and this gives you the project total before you get to the register.
How do you calculate lumber cost?
Per board foot: (thickness × width × length in inches ÷ 144) × price. Per linear foot: length in feet × price. Per piece: the sticker price. Times quantity, summed across every board.
Board foot or per piece — which is cheaper?
Hardwood is usually per board foot; softwood (2×4s, 1×6s) is per piece or per linear foot. Enter the same board both ways and compare — the per-unit options let you see which is cheaper.
Want board feet or a cut plan?
Use the free board foot calculator for volume, or the cut list optimizer to buy the fewest boards with the least waste.