Linear Foot Calculator
Calculation Summary
Total Linear Feet: 0 LF
Total Estimated Cost: $0.00
Understanding Linear Foot Calculations
A linear foot is a measurement of length equal to 12 inches (or 1 foot). Unlike square footage, which measures area (length × width), or cubic footage, which measures volume, linear footage only measures distance in a straight line. This measurement is critical in industries like construction, carpentry, and interior design for ordering materials like trim, fencing, cabinets, and lumber.
The Linear Foot Formula
Calculating linear feet is straightforward when you are dealing with a single piece of material. If you have multiple pieces or dimensions in inches, use the following steps:
- Convert Inches to Feet: Divide the number of inches by 12.
- Add to Base Feet: Add the decimal from the inch conversion to your whole feet measurement.
- Multiply by Quantity: If you have 10 boards of the same length, multiply the length of one board by 10.
Basic Formula: Total Linear Feet = [Length in Feet + (Length in Inches / 12)] × Quantity
Linear Feet vs. Square Feet
A common mistake is confusing linear feet with square feet. While square feet measure the total "surface" of a floor or wall, linear feet only measure the "edge." For example, if you are installing baseboards around a 10×10 room, you aren't buying 100 square feet of wood; you are buying 40 linear feet of trim (10 + 10 + 10 + 10).
Real-World Examples
- Fencing: If you need to fence a backyard that is 50 feet long on three sides, you need 150 linear feet of fencing material.
- Lumber: If you are buying 2x4s and the project requires 5 boards that are each 8 feet 6 inches long:
(6 inches / 12 = 0.5 feet) + 8 feet = 8.5 feet per board.
8.5 feet × 5 boards = 42.5 linear feet. - Kitchen Cabinets: Cabinetry is often sold by the linear foot. If a contractor quotes $200 per linear foot and you have 12 feet of wall space to cover, your base cost is $2,400.