2x4 actual size, board feet and weight calculator
Nominal lumber sizes describe the rough-sawn dimension before drying and planing. A 2x4 finishes at 1.5 by 3.5 inches, but board feet are still billed on the nominal size.
Douglas fir 530; southern yellow pine 640; spruce 450.
- Board feet per piece
- 5.333
- Total weight
- 43.77
- Weight per piece
- 4.377
- Total linear feet
- 80.0
- Total cost
- 95.00
- Cost per board foot
- 1.781
- Cross-sectional area
- 3387 mm2
Show the working
- Length of each piece = 8
- Number of pieces = 10
- Wood density = 530
- Price per piece = 9.5
- actual_t = 1.5 = 1.5
- actual_w = 3.5 = 3.5
- nominal_t = 2 = 2
- nominal_w = 4 = 4
- Board feet per piece = 2 * 4 * 8 / 12 = 5.333 33
- Board feet = 5.333 33 * 10 = 53.3333
- actual_volume_m3 = 1.5 * 3.5 * 8 * 12 * 0.0254^3 = 0.008 259 08
- Weight per piece = 0.008 259 08 * 530 = 4.377 31
- Total weight = 4.377 31 * 10 = 43.7731
- Total linear feet = 8 * 10 = 80
- Total cost = 9.5 * 10 = 95
- Cost per board foot = 53.3333 > 0 ? 95 / 53.3333 : 0 = 1.781 25
- Cross-sectional area = 1.5 * 3.5 * 645.16 = 3387.09
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- board feet = nominal thickness x nominal width x length in feet / 12
- weight = actual cross-section x length x density
Board feet use the nominal size, weight uses the actual size. Mixing them up overstates weight by about 25% on dimensional lumber.
Actual sizes are for dry, surfaced-four-sides softwood. Rough-sawn and green lumber run larger.
Wood weight varies with moisture content: freshly cut softwood can be half again as heavy as kiln-dried.
Nominal against actual
| Measure | Nominal | Actual (in) | Actual (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 2 in | 1.5 | 38.1 |
| Width | 4 in | 3.5 | 88.9 |
Frequently asked
What are the actual dimensions of a 2x4?
1.5 by 3.5 inches, or 38.1 by 88.9 mm, surfaced and dry.
Why is a 2x4 not actually 2 by 4 inches?
The nominal size is the green, rough-sawn dimension. Drying shrinks it and planing takes off the rest.