2x6 actual size, board feet and weight calculator
Nominal lumber sizes describe the rough-sawn dimension before drying and planing. A 2x6 finishes at 1.5 by 5.5 inches, but board feet are still billed on the nominal size.
Douglas fir 530; southern yellow pine 640; spruce 450.
- Board feet per piece
- 8.000
- Total weight
- 68.79
- Weight per piece
- 6.879
- Total linear feet
- 80.0
- Total cost
- 95.00
- Cost per board foot
- 1.188
- Cross-sectional area
- 5323 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 = 5.5 = 5.5
- nominal_t = 2 = 2
- nominal_w = 6 = 6
- Board feet per piece = 2 * 6 * 8 / 12 = 8
- Board feet = 8 * 10 = 80
- actual_volume_m3 = 1.5 * 5.5 * 8 * 12 * 0.0254^3 = 0.012 978 6
- Weight per piece = 0.012 978 6 * 530 = 6.878 63
- Total weight = 6.878 63 * 10 = 68.7863
- Total linear feet = 8 * 10 = 80
- Total cost = 9.5 * 10 = 95
- Cost per board foot = 80 > 0 ? 95 / 80 : 0 = 1.1875
- Cross-sectional area = 1.5 * 5.5 * 645.16 = 5322.57
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 | 6 in | 5.5 | 139.7 |
Frequently asked
What are the actual dimensions of a 2x6?
1.5 by 5.5 inches, or 38.1 by 139.7 mm, surfaced and dry.
Why is a 2x6 not actually 2 by 6 inches?
The nominal size is the green, rough-sawn dimension. Drying shrinks it and planing takes off the rest.