PRACTICAL GUIDE
Before comparing board-foot prices, confirm the supplier's tally dimensions and what boards you will receive. A board foot measures volume; equal lengths need not contain equal volumes.
Then compare the same species, selection, supplied dimensions and complete Canadian-dollar total. The worked figures below are hypothetical, not measurements, quotations or current prices. Sources checked November 5, 2026.
For dimensions expressed as thickness and width in inches, with length in feet:
Board feet = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (ft) ÷ 12.
Treeview Farm's Canadian buying guide gives that formula and defines a board foot as the volume of a piece one foot long, one foot wide and one inch thick.
There is an equivalent all-inch calculation. The WoodSource's FAQ gives length × width × thickness, all in inches, divided by 144. Keep the divisor attached to its unit convention; entering a length in feet into the all-inch version changes the result.
These are invented calculation dimensions agreed for the example, not a statement of a seller's tally rules.
| Calculation thickness | Width | Length per board | Boards | BF per board | Total BF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 6 in | 8 ft | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| 2 in | 6 in | 8 ft | 4 | 8 | 32 |
For the first row: 1 × 6 × 8 ÷ 12 = 4 BF per board; four boards give 16 BF. Both rows contain 32 linear feet, but doubling the thickness doubles their calculated board footage.
That is why a price per linear foot and a price per board foot need a common, confirmed quantity before they help you compare an order. Do not select a supplier from the unit-price number alone.
For mixed widths or lengths, keep a separate line for each size. This is a useful checking worksheet; ask how the supplier tallies and rounds the actual order before treating your arithmetic as its invoice quantity.
Treeview Farm's explanation explicitly uses nominal thickness before dimensioning. Its example describes surfaced hardwood at 3/4 inch being calculated with a nominal 1-inch thickness. That is Treeview's stated example; confirm the basis used for your own quote.
For a hypothetical board 6 inches wide and 8 feet long, entering 3/4 inch gives 3 BF. Entering a stated 1-inch billing thickness gives 4 BF. Those different assumptions do not, by themselves, establish an invoicing error or the dimensions you will receive.
Quarter notation also needs its scope. The American Hardwood Export Council's measurement guide describes standard rough-sawn thicknesses in quarters of an inch: 4/4 represents 1 inch and 8/4 represents 2 inches. Its surrounding guidance concerns US hardwood grading and export conventions. A quarter-size label alone is not a promise of your finished thickness or a universal Canadian retail tally policy.
Use the same requirements when requesting each quote:
Keep the dated quote with these answers. If two suppliers quote different conditions or quantities, resolve those differences before deciding which offer suits the job. This checklist does not assume that any particular charge, delivery service or rounding method applies.
A board-foot total also does not tell you how many usable project parts you can obtain. Keep the part requirements separate from the purchase tally, and check the actual offered boards against those requirements.
For the related distinction between a label and a fit dimension, read plywood thickness labels. For stock that changes with its conditions, see why dry wood still moves.
Source information was checked for this guide’s publication date. Follow the manufacturer’s current manual for your exact tool.
KEEP READING
Separate the nominal label, unit conversion, product specification and measured sheet thickness before finalising a fit-dependent dimension.
Read the guideKiln-dried lumber still responds to humidity. Understand grain direction, measure the right conditions and read a moisture meter before committing good timber to a furniture project.
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