Linear Foot Calculator

by

Linear Foot Calculator

Feet (ft) Inches (in) Yards (yd) Meters (m) Centimeters (cm)

Calculation Results

Total Linear Footage: 0.00 LF
Total Estimated Cost: $0.00
*Results are rounded to two decimal places.
function calculateLinearFootage() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('itemLength').value); var unit = document.getElementById('unitType').value; var quantity = parseFloat(document.getElementById('itemQuantity').value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('unitPrice').value); if (isNaN(length) || length <= 0) { alert('Please enter a valid length.'); return; } if (isNaN(quantity) || quantity 0) { var totalCost = totalLF * price; document.getElementById('totalCost').innerText = '$' + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); costRow.style.display = 'flex'; } else { costRow.style.display = 'none'; } }

What is a Linear Foot?

A linear foot is a measurement of length that is exactly 12 inches (or 1 foot) long. Unlike square feet, which measures area (two dimensions), or cubic feet, which measures volume (three dimensions), linear footage only measures distance in a straight line.

Linear Foot Formula

The basic formula for calculating linear footage depends on the starting unit of measurement:

  • From Inches: Total Inches ÷ 12 = Linear Feet
  • From Yards: Total Yards × 3 = Linear Feet
  • Multiple Items: (Length of one item in feet) × (Number of items) = Total Linear Feet

When to Use This Calculator

Linear footage is the standard measurement for various construction and home improvement materials. Common use cases include:

  • Lumber and Trim: Baseboards, crown molding, and 2x4s are sold by the linear foot.
  • Fencing: Most fencing projects are quoted based on the total linear distance of the property line.
  • Cabinetry: Kitchen cabinets are often estimated by the linear foot of wall space they occupy.
  • Textiles: Fabric and carpeting (on a roll) are measured linearly.

Example Calculation

If you are planning to install a fence and you have 4 sections of fencing that are each 96 inches long:

  1. Convert inches to feet: 96 ÷ 12 = 8 feet per section.
  2. Multiply by quantity: 8 feet × 4 sections = 32 Linear Feet.
  3. If the fencing costs $15 per linear foot, your total cost would be 32 × $15 = $480.
Note: Always add a 10% "waste factor" to your total linear footage when ordering materials like flooring or trim to account for cuts and mistakes.

Leave a Comment