What are linear feet?
One linear foot is one foot of running length. Linear feet measure length, not area, volume or board feet. A measured run has the same length regardless of its material width.
Use the Linear Feet Calculator
Choose Runs / Segments for measured lengths, or Area → Linear Length for a known area and entered effective material width. Optional extra, stock-piece length and both prices apply to the active requirement. No material, width, stock, waste or price standard is supplied.
Add multiple measured runs
Enter feet plus inches, or meters plus centimeters, and a positive whole repeat quantity for each run. Labels are descriptive only. Add/removal preserves each remaining run's identity and measurements. Every active run must be valid; a bad run is never silently omitted. Totals use full canonical precision before display rounding.
Square feet to linear feet
Divide known area by effective material width in compatible units. Width inches ÷ 12 gives feet; square feet ÷ width feet gives linear feet. Metric square meters ÷ width meters gives meters. Width centimeters ÷ 100 gives meters. Both area and width are required; area alone cannot determine running length.
Why material width matters
Width changes how much area a length can cover, so it matters only in area conversion. Effective coverage is user-entered; overlap, gaps, spacing, kerf, seams, pattern matching, orientation and layout losses are not modeled. Apply explicit extra separately if appropriate.
Plan stock pieces from total length
Project requirement ÷ entered stock length gives exact length equivalent. Round upward for a length-based piece estimate, multiply by stock length for supplied length, then subtract the project requirement for overage. Piece count is based on total length, not a cutting-stock optimization. Individual run/cut constraints and usable offcuts may require more pieces; no usable cutting plan is guaranteed.
Linear feet, square feet and board feet
Linear feet are length; square feet are area. Board feet measure lumber volume and answer a different question. This page does not calculate board feet. For generic volume, use the separate Cubic Yard Calculator. Fence, decking, lumber, trim and siding calculations may become separate project tools; no project-specific rules are inferred from labels.
Keep supplier quotes separate
A price per linear foot or meter multiplies project required length. A price per stock piece multiplies the length-based whole-piece estimate. USD/ft converts to economically equivalent USD/m; USD/piece stays unchanged. Quotes may be alternative supplier offers and are never added, ranked or selected automatically. Tax, delivery, fasteners, labor, finish, hardware and cutting charges are excluded unless included in your entered quote.
Worked length examples
Runs: Run 1 is 12 ft 6 in, quantity 2: 12.5 × 2 = 25 ft. Run 2 is 8 ft, quantity 1: 8 ft. Base = 33 linear ft; at zero allowance, project = 33 ft.
Area: 120 ft² with entered 6 in width. 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft; 120 ÷ 0.5 = 240 linear ft. Six inches is an example width only, not a product recommendation.
Stock: Required 83 ft ÷ entered 12 ft stock = 6.9167 exact equivalent → length-based estimate 7 whole pieces. Supplied = 84 ft; overage = 1 ft. This does not optimize how individual cuts are assigned to stock pieces. Twelve feet is hypothetical stock input only.
Cubic Yard Calculator answers the separate volume question. Board Foot and project-specific fence/deck/lumber/trim/siding tools remain future intents.
Linear Feet calculator FAQ
What is a linear foot?
One foot of running length, equal to exactly 0.3048 meters. It is not an area or volume unit.
Is a linear foot the same as a foot?
Yes. Linear emphasizes that the measurement is running length, independent of material width.
How do I add several runs?
Add a row for each measured run, enter its length and whole repeat quantity, and sum the unrounded row totals. Invalid active rows withhold the combined requirement.
How do I convert square feet to linear feet?
Enter area and effective material width. Convert width inches to feet by dividing by 12, then divide square feet by that width. Area alone is insufficient.
Why do I need material width for area conversion?
Area is length times width. Dividing by the entered effective width determines running length. Width does not change a directly measured run.
How do I estimate stock pieces?
Enter stock length. Project required length divided by stock length gives exact equivalent; upward rounding gives a length-based piece estimate, with supply and overage shown separately.
Does the piece estimate optimize cuts?
No. It uses total length only. Individual runs, required cuts, kerf and offcut suitability may require more stock pieces. It is not a guaranteed cutting layout.
How do linear feet differ from square feet?
Linear feet measure length. Square feet measure area. Conversion requires an explicit effective material width.
How are linear feet different from board feet?
Board feet measure lumber volume. This calculator handles running length and does not calculate board feet or assume lumber dimensions.