Calculator 03 / Lumber & Framing

Lumber Calculator

Get board footage for a lumber order, or stud count for framing a wall on 16" or 24" centers.

Thickness (in, nominal)

Width (in, nominal)

Length (ft)

Number of boards

Waste factor (%)

How this calculator works

Board feet (per board) = (Thickness (in) × Width (in) × Length (ft)) ÷ 12 Total board feet = Board feet per board × Number of boards × (1 + Waste %) Wall studs (base count) = ceil( (Wall length (ft) × 12) ÷ On-center spacing (in) ) + 1 Total studs = Base count + (Corners × 2) + (Openings × 3)

Board footage uses nominal (not actual/dressed) dimensions, matching how lumber yards price and quote material. The stud formula gives a standard 16"/24" on-center layout plus common allowances for corners, wall intersections, and rough openings — always confirm against your actual framing plan.

Nominal vs. actual lumber size — which do I use?

Use nominal size (the size printed on the label, e.g. 2×6) for board footage — that's how lumber is bought and sold, even though the actual dressed size is smaller (a 2×6 is really 1.5"×5.5").

Should I round up individual board lengths?

Yes — lumber is sold in standard lengths (8', 10', 12', 16', etc.). Round each board up to the next stock length before ordering, even though this calculator computes raw board footage.

Estimates only. Confirm final counts against your framing plan and local building code requirements.