Volume ↔ length
Board Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
Convert board feet to linear feet (and back) from thickness and width — the conversion for when a dealer quotes per board foot but you buy by the stick. New to the math? See how to calculate board feet.
How do you convert board feet to linear feet?
First find board feet per linear foot = thickness(in) × width(in) ÷ 12. Then board feet = that value × linear feet, and linear feet = board feet ÷ that value. A nominal 1×6 has 1 × 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 BF per linear foot.
Worked example
You bought 30 board feet of 4/4 (1 in) × 6 in maple. BF per linear foot = 1 × 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5. Linear feet = 30 ÷ 0.5 = 60 linear feet of running board. That tells you how much shelf or trim you can actually produce. To start from dimensions instead, use the board foot calculator.
Why do hardwood and softwood use different units?
I deal in this gap every week. Hardwood comes in random widths, so the yard prices it per board foot — volume is the only fair common measure. Dimensional softwood has a fixed cross-section, so the home center sells a 1×6 by the stick or the linear foot. When a hardwood quote and a softwood quote sit side by side, I convert both to the same unit before I compare; running them through the lumber cost calculator on a common board-foot basis is the only honest apples-to-apples check.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert board feet to linear feet?
Divide board feet by the board feet per linear foot, which is thickness times width divided by 12. A 1x6 has 0.5 board feet per linear foot, so 10 board feet is 10 ÷ 0.5 = 20 linear feet.
Why do hardwood and softwood use different units?
Hardwood is usually priced per board foot because widths vary, while dimensional softwood is often priced per linear foot or per piece because the cross-section is standardized. Converting lets you compare quotes fairly.
How many board feet are in a linear foot of 1x6?
A nominal 1x6 has 1 × 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 board feet per linear foot, so a 10-foot 1x6 contains 5 board feet.