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Timber & Board Calculators

Calculate board feet, timber volumes, sheet goods, plank quantities, and lumber yields for your woodworking projects.

10 free calculators in Timber & Board

Timber and Board Calculations for Woodworking

Accurate timber calculation is the foundation of every woodworking project. Whether you are buying rough-sawn hardwood by the board foot or ordering sheet materials from a timber merchant, knowing exactly how much material you need prevents costly over-ordering and frustrating shortages.

Board footage is the standard unit for purchasing hardwood timber. One board foot equals a piece 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick (approximately 2,360 cm³). Our board feet calculator converts metric and imperial dimensions into board feet, making it easy to compare prices and estimate costs from any timber supplier.

Sheet goods like plywood, MDF, and chipboard are sold in standard sizes — typically 2440 × 1220mm (8′ × 4′) in the UK. Our sheet goods calculator works out how many sheets you need for your project area, accounting for waste and cutting losses.

Wood is a hygroscopic material that expands and contracts with changes in moisture content. Our wood shrinkage calculator estimates dimensional changes so you can design proper expansion gaps and avoid warping, splitting, and joint failure in your finished pieces.