Lumberyard Tally Calculator

Use this tool at the rack, not only at a desk

Hardwood is often sold in random widths and lengths. A project may call for thirty board feet, but the purchase is assembled one physical board at a time. This tally lets you label and measure each selected board, see the running board-foot total, and estimate the checkout amount before the stack reaches the counter.

Each row accepts rough thickness, measured width, length in feet, and quantity. Use quantity only for genuinely identical pieces. Random-width boards should normally receive separate rows so the saved list remains a useful record and the calculation can be checked against the invoice.

How the measured tally is calculated

For imperial entries, board feet equal thickness in inches multiplied by width in inches multiplied by length in feet, divided by twelve. Quantity is multiplied before rows are combined. A 4/4 board that is 7.25 inches wide and eight feet long contains 4.8333 board feet before display rounding.

The tool retains each unrounded result until the batch total is calculated. This avoids creating a systematic difference by rounding every individual board first. The screen shows two decimal places for readability, while the exported CSV includes both the exact and NHLA-estimated columns with four decimal places for easier review.

Exact volume versus an NHLA standard tally

Exact mode calculates physical volume directly from every decimal you enter. NHLA mode estimates the board-measure method described in the NHLA Rules for the Measurement and Inspection of Hardwood. It drops a fractional standard length, calculates surface measure for each board, rounds that surface measure to a whole foot, and then multiplies by standard thickness. Exact half-foot surface measures alternate upward and downward through the list.

NHLA mode is useful for understanding a conventional random-width hardwood tally; it is not a claim that every retailer follows NHLA rules. A seller may use exact decimals, a board-rule scale, different length increments, or a separately stated contract method. Select the basis named by the seller before comparing the invoice.

Quarter thickness and physical thickness answer different questions

The thickness selector uses common rough-lumber categories such as 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4. Dealers frequently tally rough hardwood from the nominal quarter thickness even when a board varies slightly or has already received light surfacing. Confirm the method used by the specific dealer before comparing totals.

If the purpose is to calculate current physical volume rather than verify a purchase tally, the board-foot definition can be applied to actual measured thickness. This version is optimized for common lumberyard purchasing, so its quick selector follows rough categories. The main Board Foot Calculator accepts any thickness and is better for an unrestricted physical-volume calculation.

Measure random-width boards consistently

Measure width at a location and by a method consistent with the seller's rules. Tapered boards, live edges, and boards with wane may be averaged, measured at a specified point, or handled under a yard-specific policy. Length may also be tallied in increments instead of exact decimals. The calculator intentionally does not guess or silently imitate an unknown rounding system.

When a board includes a severe end check or unusable split, distinguish the billed dimension from the clear length you can use. A dealer may legitimately bill the full board according to grade rules even though your project yield is lower. Record the purchase tally here, then judge usable yield against the project cut list.

Compare the invoice without assuming an error

Enter the dealer's board-foot total in the optional invoice field. The result shows invoice board feet minus the currently selected tally total and expresses the difference as a percentage of that total. A positive number means the invoice is higher; a negative number means it is lower.

Differences do not automatically indicate overcharging. Width rounding, length increments, nominal thickness, board-by-board rounding, moisture condition, or a simple difference in where the board was measured can explain them. Ask for the tally rules, repeat any ambiguous measurements, and compare the individual rows before drawing a conclusion.

Estimate checkout cost clearly

Enter the quoted price for the exact species, grade, thickness, and service level you are buying. The lumber subtotal is measured board feet multiplied by price per board foot. The tax field applies only to that lumber subtotal. Milling, straight-line ripping, packaging, and delivery can be entered as additional fees and are not taxed by this calculator because tax treatment varies by location and service.

The checkout estimate is for planning, not a supplier quote. Wide-board premiums, short-board discounts, minimum quantities, different prices by thickness, and individually priced slabs may require separate tallies. When prices differ, create and export a separate list for each price group.

Saving, privacy, CSV, and printing

“Save on this device” stores the current list in this browser's local storage. It does not create an account or upload your board measurements. Clearing site data, using private browsing, or switching devices can remove or hide the saved list, so export a CSV when the record matters.

The CSV is suitable for a spreadsheet, job folder, or purchase record. The print button opens the browser's print workflow, which can also save a PDF on many devices. Before leaving the yard, check the longest and widest project parts—not just total volume—and photograph or label boards when appearance and grain matching matter.

Build the target before selecting boards

If you only have a finished-part list, begin with the Rough Lumber Calculator. It converts finished dimensions into rough blanks and keeps milling allowances separate from selection contingency. Bring that target here, then assemble a physical stack capable of yielding the critical pieces.