Linear feet calculator
Add up boards and trim in linear feet, convert square feet to linear feet by board width, or measure baseboard around a room.
That covers
square feet
You need
64.00 linear feet
- Linear feet
- 64.00 ft
- Inches
- 768.0 in
- Yards
- 21.33 yd
- Meters
- 19.51 m
- Pieces to buy
- × ft
- Estimated cost
Includes the extra you set. Pieces to buy assumes joints can fall anywhere; add a piece if every run must be one length.
How to calculate linear feet
Linear feet is just length in feet, measured along the material. Width and thickness don't count, which is what makes it different from square feet and board feet.
- Pieces: linear feet = number of pieces × length of each in feet (inches ÷ 12)
- From square feet: linear feet = square feet ÷ (board width in inches ÷ 12)
- To square feet: square feet = linear feet × board width in inches ÷ 12
- Around a room: linear feet = 2 × (length + width), less the doorways
Worked example
Deck boards 5 1/2 in wide covering 320 sq ft: 5.5 ÷ 12 = 0.4583 ft wide, so 320 ÷ 0.4583 = 698.2 linear feet of board, before any extra for gaps and cut-offs.
Square feet to linear feet by board width
Actual face widths from the American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20). Add extra for gaps and waste.
| Board | Width (in.) | Linear ft per 100 sq ft | Sq ft per 100 linear ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x3 | 2 1/2 | 480.0 | 20.8 |
| 1x4 | 3 1/2 | 342.9 | 29.2 |
| 1x6 | 5 1/2 | 218.2 | 45.8 |
| 1x8 | 7 1/4 | 165.5 | 60.4 |
| 1x12 | 11 1/4 | 106.7 | 93.8 |
Baseboard for common rooms
The room's perimeter, before taking out doorways or adding waste.
| Room | Linear feet |
|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 40 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 44 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 48 |
| 12 × 14 ft | 52 |
| 14 × 16 ft | 60 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 72 |
Linear feet questions
What is a linear foot?
Twelve inches of length, measured in a straight line along the material, however wide or thick it is. A linear foot of 1x4 trim and a linear foot of 2x12 joist are both 12 inches long. Square feet measure area (length × width) and board feet measure lumber volume; for that, use the board foot calculator.
How do I calculate linear feet?
Add up the lengths in feet. For pieces measured in inches, divide by 12: six pieces 30 in. long are 6 × 30 ÷ 12 = 15 linear feet. Choose "Add up pieces" above, enter how many of each length, and the calculator totals them.
How do I convert square feet to linear feet?
Divide the square feet by the board's width in feet (inches ÷ 12). 320 sq ft of 5 1/2 in deck boards is 698.2 linear feet. Use the actual face width, not the nominal size, and add extra for gaps between boards and cut-offs.
How do I convert linear feet to square feet?
Multiply the linear feet by the width in feet. 100 linear feet of 3 1/2 in boards covers 100 × 3.5 ÷ 12 = 29.17 square feet. For the area of a room itself, use the square footage calculator.
How many linear feet is a 12 × 12 room?
48 linear feet around the walls: 2 × (12 + 12). For baseboard, take out the doorways: one 36 in. door leaves 45 feet. Add a little extra for miter cuts and short pieces, and choose "Around a room" above for your own room.
How much is a linear foot?
As a length, always 12 inches. As a price, it depends on the material: trim, countertops, fencing and gutters are often priced per linear foot. Multiply the price per linear foot by the linear feet you need; enter the price above and the calculator does it.