How to use lumber quote price normalizer
What this calculation does
Quote normalization converts several lumber quote units to a user-comparable price per board foot when the physical or nominal basis permits it.
Choose the supplier quote unit, enter its price, and provide dimensions when the quote is per piece or per linear foot.
Enter the measurements
- Quote unit: Select the unit used by the supplier quote.
- Dimension basis: Select the dimension convention used by the product or quote; do not mix nominal labels with measured geometry.
- Quoted price: Enter the stated price for the selected quote unit.
- Thickness: For per-piece or per-linear-foot quotes, enter thickness.
- Width: For per-piece or per-linear-foot quotes, enter width.
- Length: For a per-piece quote, enter piece length in feet.
Formula and variables
$/BF = piece price / BF per piece; $/LF ÷ BF per LF; $/MBF ÷ 1000; geometric $/ft³ ÷ 12.
A per-piece price divides by BF per piece; a per-cubic-foot price divides by 12 geometric BF per cubic foot. Nominal board measure cannot be treated as geometric volume.
Read the result
A nominal 2×6×8 ft piece contains 8 nominal BF by the stated calculation, so $24 per piece normalizes to $3 per nominal BF.
Worked example
Inputs: $24 per nominal 2×6×8 ft piece
- Per-piece quantity = 2×6×8÷12 = 8 BF.
- Normalized price = $24÷8 = $3 per BF on the entered basis.
Expected result: $3 per nominal BF
Frequently asked questions
Can a cubic-foot quote use nominal board measure?
No. Cubic feet describe physical volume, so the dimension basis must be geometric.
Does normalized price include delivery or discounts?
No. Compare the same quoted scope and terms separately.
Conditions, presets and technical notes
Compare like species/grade and the same nominal or actual basis. Cubic-foot quotes convert only to geometric BF, not nominal softwood board measure. User-entered prices only.
Use the same nominal or actual basis as the source quantity or quote.
