Should I use nominal or actual lumber dimensions?

Use actual (dressed) dimensions for accurate board-foot totals — a "2x4" is really 1.5" x 3.5" and a "1x6" is really 0.75" x 5.5" once milled. This calculator's Nominal Size dropdown fills in the standard S4S actual dimensions for you automatically, though real mill sizes can vary slightly by supplier.

What does the "round thickness up to 1 inch" checkbox actually change?

It only affects the board-foot math used for billing purposes, treating any piece thinner than 1" as if it were 1" thick — mirroring how many hardwood dealers won't bill below their 4/4 minimum. It does not alter the thickness value you entered or the piece's real dimensions.

How is hardwood thickness usually described in quarters?

Rough-sawn hardwood is commonly sold in quarter-inch increments: 4/4 lumber is about 1" thick, 6/4 is about 1.5", and 8/4 is about 2" — so you may need to convert a quarter designation to decimal inches before entering it as the thickness.

Does the total cost include waste or a cutting allowance?

No — the estimated cost is simply the total board feet multiplied by your entered price per board foot, based on exactly the pieces and quantities in your cut list. It does not add any extra percentage for waste, defects, or kerf loss; add extra pieces to your list yourself if you want to account for that.

Board Feet / Lumber Calculator

Add each piece of lumber in your cut plan — thickness, width, length, and how many — and see the running board-foot total and estimated cost.

Cut List

Round thickness up to 1″ minimum (standard hardwood billing convention)

Price per Board Foot ($, optional)

Board feet = Thickness (in) × Width (in) × Length (ft) ÷ 12 — enter length in decimal feet (e.g. 8.5 for 8′6″). Use actual (not nominal) dimensions for accurate results: a "2x4" is actually 1.5″ × 3.5″, a "1x6" is actually 0.75″ × 5.5″ — pick a Nominal Size from the dropdown to fill these in automatically (standard S4S dressed sizes; real mill dimensions can vary slightly). Hardwood is typically sold rough by quarters: 4/4 = 1″, 6/4 = 1.5″, 8/4 = 2″. The 1″ billing minimum only affects the round-up checkbox above — it does not change what you actually measured.

— Total Board Feet