Lumber Math: Board Feet vs Linear Feet vs Cubic Feet

Walking into a lumberyard can be confusing if you aren't familiar with industry terminology. Depending on what you are buying, the wood might be sold by the board foot, the linear foot, or even the cubic foot. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate project pricing.

Board Feet vs Linear Feet

A linear foot (LF) only measures one dimension: length. It ignores the thickness and width of the board entirely. A 10-foot long 2x4 and a 10-foot long 2x10 are both exactly 10 linear feet. Linear feet are primarily used for purchasing dimensional framing lumber (like pine 2x4s) or decorative trim and molding.

Board feet (BF) measures volume. It accounts for the thickness, width, and length of the board. This is how premium hardwoods (like oak, walnut, and cherry) are sold, because the total volume of the tree is the most valuable metric.

Board Feet vs Cubic Feet

While both measure volume, they scale differently.

• Cubic Feet (CF): A standard geometric measurement of volume (Length × Width × Height in feet). One cubic foot equals 1,728 cubic inches.
• Board Feet (BF): A specialized lumber measurement. One board foot equals exactly 144 cubic inches.

Because of this math, 1 Cubic Foot is exactly equal to 12 Board Feet.

If you need to quickly convert between these volume metrics for an upcoming project, enter your dimensions into our Board Feet Calculator to see the cubic feet equivalents instantly.