How many board feet in a 2x4x8?

5.33 board feet. The chart lists it along with other common sizes.

What is the actual size of a 2x4?

1.5 by 3.5 inches. The board is sold as a 2x4 (its nominal size) but drying and planing trim it down to 1.5 by 3.5, while board feet are still figured at the full 2 by 4.

What are the actual dimensions of a 1x4, 1x6, and 1x8?

0.75 by 3.5, 0.75 by 5.5, and 0.75 by 7.25 inches. Every nominal 1-inch board planes down to 0.75 inch thick, and the width loses half an inch up to 6 inches, then three quarters of an inch from 8 inches on.

Are the board feet figured at nominal or actual size?

Nominal size, the way lumber is sold and priced. A 2x4 is counted as a full 2 by 4, not its actual 1.5 by 3.5.

What if my length is not on the chart?

Use the calculator on the home page. It handles any thickness, width, and length.

Board Foot Chart

A board foot chart for every common lumber size and length, plus a full nominal vs actual size chart showing the real inch dimensions of a 2x4, 1x6, and more.

How to read the chart

Each cell below is the board feet in a single board of that nominal size and length, figured at nominal size and divided by 144. Multiply by how many boards you need. For sizes or lengths not listed, use the board foot calculator on the home page.

Nominal vs actual lumber sizes

Board feet are always figured at nominal size, the name on the tag. But when you measure a board with a tape, you get the actual size, which is smaller. A green board is sawn close to its nominal size, then drying and planing shave off the rest, so a 2x4 lands at 1.5 by 3.5 inches. The name stuck from the rough-sawn stage.

Here is the actual size for every common nominal dimension, in inches:

Nominal	Actual (thickness x width)
1x2	0.75 x 1.5
1x3	0.75 x 2.5
1x4	0.75 x 3.5
1x6	0.75 x 5.5
1x8	0.75 x 7.25
1x10	0.75 x 9.25
1x12	0.75 x 11.25
2x2	1.5 x 1.5
2x4	1.5 x 3.5
2x6	1.5 x 5.5
2x8	1.5 x 7.25
2x10	1.5 x 9.25
2x12	1.5 x 11.25
4x4	3.5 x 3.5
6x6	5.5 x 5.5

Two shortcuts cover almost everything. Any nominal 1-inch thickness planes down to 0.75 inch, and any nominal 2-inch thickness planes down to 1.5 inch. For width, boards under 8 inches lose half an inch, and boards 8 inches and wider lose three quarters of an inch, which is why those widths end in .25. Length is the exception, since an 8-foot board really is 8 feet. For the full story behind the shrink, see nominal vs actual lumber sizes.

Nominal size	6 ft	8 ft	10 ft	12 ft	14 ft	16 ft
1 x 2	1	1.33	1.67	2	2.33	2.67
1 x 3	1.50	2	2.50	3	3.50	4
1 x 4	2	2.67	3.33	4	4.67	5.33
1 x 6	3	4	5	6	7	8
1 x 8	4	5.33	6.67	8	9.33	10.67
1 x 10	5	6.67	8.33	10	11.67	13.33
1 x 12	6	8	10	12	14	16
2 x 2	2	2.67	3.33	4	4.67	5.33
2 x 4	4	5.33	6.67	8	9.33	10.67
2 x 6	6	8	10	12	14	16
2 x 8	8	10.67	13.33	16	18.67	21.33
2 x 10	10	13.33	16.67	20	23.33	26.67
2 x 12	12	16	20	24	28	32
4 x 4	8	10.67	13.33	16	18.67	21.33
4 x 6	12	16	20	24	28	32
6 x 6	18	24	30	36	42	48

Each value is the board feet in one board of that nominal size and length. Multiply by the number of boards you need.

Frequently asked questions

How many board feet in a 2x4x8?: 5.33 board feet. The chart lists it along with other common sizes.
What is the actual size of a 2x4?: 1.5 by 3.5 inches. The board is sold as a 2x4 (its nominal size) but drying and planing trim it down to 1.5 by 3.5, while board feet are still figured at the full 2 by 4.
What are the actual dimensions of a 1x4, 1x6, and 1x8?: 0.75 by 3.5, 0.75 by 5.5, and 0.75 by 7.25 inches. Every nominal 1-inch board planes down to 0.75 inch thick, and the width loses half an inch up to 6 inches, then three quarters of an inch from 8 inches on.
Are the board feet figured at nominal or actual size?: Nominal size, the way lumber is sold and priced. A 2x4 is counted as a full 2 by 4, not its actual 1.5 by 3.5.
What if my length is not on the chart?: Use the calculator on the home page. It handles any thickness, width, and length.