About Our Lumber Board Footage & Pricing Calculator for Industrial Wood Buyers
If you’re purchasing full truckloads of industrial lumber for manufacturing pallets, crates, or wood packaging, having an accurate board footage and pricing calculator can help you streamline manufacturing operations, planning, and purchasing decisions. Our Lumber Calculator lets you easily convert between known pieces, board feet (BDFT), thousand board feet (MBFT), and lineal feet (LF) while also providing real-time pricing estimates based on your input.
Easily Convert Industrial Lumber Volume Measurements
Whether you buy lumber by the piece, board foot, thousand board feet, or lineal foot, our tool makes it simple to convert between units. Just enter the thickness, width, and length of your lumber and the calculator will instantly generate:
- 📏 Board Feet (BDFT)
- 📦 Thousand Board Feet (MBFT)
- 📐 Lineal Feet (LF)
- 🪚 Total Pieces
Why is this important?
- Many bulk industrial wood buyers purchase in MBFT (thousand board feet), but pallet and crate manufacturers often measure in pieces.
- Some buyers negotiate lumber pricing per BDFT or LF, making it essential to convert between units.
- Freight costs and load planning require knowing total board footage so they don’t exceed flatbed weight limits.
Lumber Pricing Conversion Calculator
Not only can you convert lumber volumes, but you can also use our Pricing Calculator to estimate total material costs. Simply enter:
- Starting Price: Price per Piece, BDFT, MBFT, or LF.
- Lumber Specifications: Thickness, Width, and Length.
- Desired Unit of Measure: Convert price estimates to all four units instantly.
This makes it easy to compare bulk pricing across different suppliers, mills, and brokers.
Who Uses This Calculator?
This tool is built for industrial wood buyers who purchase full truckload quantities of:
- Pallet stock lumber
- Crating lumber
- Dimensional cut lumber for packaging
- Hardwood and softwood industrial lumber
- Custom industrial wood components
If you’re in pallet manufacturing, crate production, or industrial packaging, this calculator helps you accurately size and price lumber for bulk orders.
Full Truckload Lumber Quotes
Want to purchase bulk lumber at the best pricing?
After using the calculator, you can submit a quote request for a full truckload order based on your exact specifications.
Just enter your name, business name, email, and phone number, and we’ll provide a custom quote for your lumber needs.
Why Use This Lumber Calculator?
Use this tool to simplify your lumber purchasing decisions and ensure you’re getting the best value for your industrial wood needs.
- Saves time—eliminates manual board foot calculations.
- Prepares accurate orders—convert measurements instantly.
- Compares pricing—helps you evaluate costs per unit.
- Supports bulk industrial buyers—optimized for large orders.
Get started now—enter your lumber details and calculate your board footage and pricing in any unit of measure instantly!
Understanding Board Feet, Thousand Board Feet, and Lineal Feet in Lumber
When buying industrial lumber, it’s important to understand the common units of measure: Board Feet (BDFT), Thousand Board Feet (MBFT), and Lineal Feet (LF). Below are simple explanations and formulas to help calculate them.
📏 What is a Board Foot (BDFT)?
A Board Foot (BDFT) is a volume measurement for lumber. It represents a piece of wood that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.
Formula for Board Feet:
Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) ÷ 12
Example:
For a 2-inch thick, 4-inch wide, 8-foot long board: (2×4×8) ÷ 12 = 5.33 BDFT
📦 What is a Thousand Board Feet (MBFT)?
A Thousand Board Feet (MBFT) is simply 1,000 board feet of lumber. This unit is used for bulk lumber purchasing.
Formula for Thousand Board Feet:
MBFT = Total Board Feet ÷ 1,000
Example:
If you have 5,000 board feet of lumber, then: 5,000÷1,000=5 MBFT
📐 What is Lineal Feet (LF)?
A Lineal Foot (LF) is a measurement of lumber length only, regardless of width or thickness.
Formula for Lineal Feet:
LF = Total Pieces × Length in Feet
Example:
If you have 100 boards, each 8 feet long: 100 × 8 = 800 LF
💡 Quick Reference Table
| Unit | Definition | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Board Foot (BDFT) | Volume measurement for lumber | (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 12 |
| Thousand Board Feet (MBFT) | 1,000 Board Feet | Total BDFT ÷ 1,000 |
| Lineal Feet (LF) | Total length of all boards | Total Pieces × Length in Feet |
How to Use These Measurements
- Board Feet (BDFT) helps calculate material volume, freight estimation, and pricing.
- Thousand Board Feet (MBFT) is used for bulk lumber pricing in full truckloads and rail cars.
- Lineal Feet (LF) is useful for job use estimation and some sawmill metrics .
Now that you understand how these units work, you can confidently use our Lumber Board Footage & Pricing Calculator to convert, price, and estimate lumber costs accurately!
Try our Sustainability and Cost Savings Calculator if you are thinking about reducing your wood packaging waste.