Linear Feet Calculator
Add up the length of material in linear feet, or convert a square footage into linear feet for a board of a given width. Results also show yards, meters and inches.
How to use this linear feet calculator
- Choose what you want to calculate. Pick total length if you have pieces of known length, or square feet to linear feet if you are covering an area with boards.
- For total length, enter the length of each piece, the unit and how many pieces you have.
- For square feet to linear feet, enter the area and the exposed width of the board in inches.
- Add a waste allowance if you want one, and a price per linear foot if you want a cost.
- Press Calculate, then use Copy result or Export CSV to keep the numbers.
How to calculate linear feet
A linear foot is a length of one foot, no matter how wide or thick the material is. The calculator has two modes.
- Total length: linear feet = length of each piece (in feet) x number of pieces
- Area to linear feet: linear feet = area (sq ft) / (board width (in) / 12)
- With waste: total = linear feet x (1 + waste % / 100)
- Yards = feet / 3, meters = feet x 0.3048, inches = feet x 12
Worked example
You have 10 pieces of trim that are 96 inches long each. 96 inches is 8 feet, so the total is 8 x 10 = 80 linear feet. That is 26.67 yards or 24.38 meters.
In the other mode, you are covering 120 square feet with boards that are 5.5 inches wide. The width in feet is 5.5 / 12 = 0.4583, so you need 120 / 0.4583 = 261.82 linear feet before any waste.
Assumptions & limits
- Linear feet describe length only. They are not a measure of area or volume, so the same number of linear feet can be a lot or a little material depending on the width.
- In area mode, the board width is the exposed width when installed. Tongue-and-groove boards often have a nominal width bigger than the exposed width.
- Waste is your own allowance and depends on the project.
- The price per linear foot is your own input. The calculator does not look up prices.
- Results are rounded for display.
Frequently asked questions
What is a linear foot?
A linear foot is a length of 12 inches. It measures distance in a straight line and ignores width and thickness.
How do I convert square feet to linear feet?
Divide the area in square feet by the width of the board in feet. For 120 sq ft and a 5.5 inch board, 120 / (5.5 / 12) is about 262 linear feet.
How do I convert inches to linear feet?
Divide inches by 12. A 96 inch board is 8 linear feet.
How do I convert linear feet to square feet?
Multiply the linear feet by the width of the board in feet. 100 linear feet of a 6 inch wide board covers 50 square feet.
Is a linear foot the same as a board foot?
No. A board foot is a volume. A linear foot is a length.
Should I add waste for linear feet?
If you are cutting pieces to fit, yes. Enter a waste percentage and the calculator adds it.
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Last updated: November 2026