Enter the price per board foot and the total board feet into the calculator to determine the total cost of the lumber.

Lumber Cost Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the total cost of lumber.

TC = PBF * TBF

Variables:

  • TC is the total cost of the lumber ($)
  • PBF is the price per board foot ($)
  • TBF is the total board feet

To calculate the total cost of lumber, multiply the price per board foot by the total board feet.

What is a Board Foot?

A board foot is a unit of measure for the volume of lumber in the United States and Canada. It represents a one-foot length of a board that is one foot wide and one inch thick. Board foot calculations account for the thickness, width, and length of a piece of wood, and they are commonly used in the lumber industry to determine the cost of various types of wood.

How to Calculate Lumber Cost?

The following steps outline how to calculate the total cost of lumber.


  1. First, determine the price per board foot (PBF) in dollars.
  2. Next, determine the total board feet (TBF).
  3. Next, gather the formula from above = TC = PBF * TBF.
  4. Finally, calculate the total cost (TC) in dollars.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Price per board foot (PBF) = $2.50

Total board feet (TBF) = 100