How to use the board foot cost calculator
- Start with the net board-foot total from your material list.
- Enter the supplier’s unit price and your chosen allowance.
- Enter an applicable tax percentage if you want it included. The tool does not look up prices or taxes.
The formula
Total = net board feet × (1 + allowance ÷ 100) × price per board foot × (1 + tax ÷ 100)
Worked example
40 net board feet plus 15% allowance gives 46 board feet. At $6 per board foot and 0% entered tax, the estimate is $276.
Before you measure and cut
Avoid applying the allowance twice if the board-foot tally already includes waste.
Suppliers may round each board separately or use a rough tally convention. Ask for the billing basis when comparing quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Are wood prices updated automatically?
No. Enter your actual quote. The calculator has no external price dependency.
Can I use another currency?
The arithmetic works with any currency as long as every price uses the same one. The displayed symbol is dollars.