How many board feet in a 2x4x8?
Quick Answer
A 2×4×8 board contains 5.33 board feet. The formula is: thickness (inches) × width (inches) × length (inches) ÷ 144. For a 2×4×8: 2 × 4 × 96 ÷ 144 = 5.33 board feet. Note that nominal dimensions (2×4) are used in the calculation, not actual dimensions (1.5×3.5).
Quick Reference Table
| Lumber size × length | Board feet |
|---|---|
| 2×4×8 | 5.33 bd ft |
| 2×4×10 | 6.67 bd ft |
| 2×4×12 | 8.00 bd ft |
| 2×6×8 | 8.00 bd ft |
| 2×6×10 | 10.00 bd ft |
| 2×8×8 | 10.67 bd ft |
| 4×4×8 | 10.67 bd ft |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Write down nominal thickness × width × length (all in inches).
- 2
For a 2×4×8: thickness = 2", width = 4", length = 8 ft = 96".
- 3
Multiply: 2 × 4 × 96 = 768.
- 4
Divide by 144: 768 ÷ 144 = 5.33 board feet.
- 5
For lengths in feet: use the simplified formula T(in) × W(in) × L(ft) ÷ 12.
Pro Tip
Board feet use nominal dimensions (2×4), not actual dimensions (1.5×3.5). This is the industry standard for pricing and ordering lumber — always use nominal dimensions in your calculations.
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