Add up the linear feet of boards, trim, pipe or fencing from piece counts and lengths, or find how many linear feet of boards it takes to cover an area.
How to use the linear feet calculator
- For a cut list or a pile of boards, choose Pieces and lengths and enter how many pieces you have of each length.
- To cover a deck, wall or floor with boards, choose An area to cover and enter the board’s actual face width and the gap between boards.
- Enter a stock length to see how many boards to buy, and a price per linear foot for the cost.
Linear feet formulas
Linear feet = pieces × length of each (ft), summed for every size Linear feet to cover an area = area (ft²) ÷ ((board width + gap) in ÷ 12) Boards = linear feet ÷ stock length, rounded up
A linear foot is simply a foot of length, whatever the width or thickness. That’s the difference from a square foot (length × width) and a board foot (a volume of 144 in³).
Worked examples
- A mixed stack: 10 boards of 8 ft and 6 boards of 12 ft = 80 + 72 = 152 linear feet.
- Deck boards: a 12 × 16 ft deck is 192 ft². Boards 5½ in wide with ¼ in gaps cover 5.75 in each, so 192 ÷ (5.75 ÷ 12) = 400.7 linear feet, or 26 boards of 16 ft running the long way.
- Baseboard: a 12 × 14 ft room has a 52 ft perimeter; minus a 3 ft doorway, that’s 49 linear feet before extra for miters.
Linear feet, board feet and square feet
| Board (nominal) | Board feet per linear foot | Linear feet per board foot |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 6 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1 × 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 × 4 | 0.667 | 1.5 |
| 2 × 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 × 8 | 1.333 | 0.75 |
| 2 × 12 | 2 | 0.5 |
Board feet use nominal sizes, so a 2 × 4 counts as 2 × 4 even though it measures 1½ × 3½ in. Use the board foot calculator for lumber priced by the board foot.
Tips
- Add extra for cuts. Miters, butt joints and defects eat into every board; add a margin to the linear feet before you buy.
- Use actual widths for coverage. A “6 in” deck board is usually about 5½ in wide; check the product you’re buying.
- Plan board lengths. Buying lengths that match your spans reduces joints and waste.
Questions
How do I calculate linear feet?
Add up the lengths of all the pieces in feet. Ten 8 ft boards are 80 linear feet.
How do I convert inches to linear feet?
Divide by 12. 150 in ÷ 12 = 12.5 linear feet.
How do I convert square feet to linear feet?
Divide the square feet by the board’s coverage width in feet. For 5.75 in coverage, 100 ft² ÷ 0.479 ft = 208.7 linear feet.
Is a linear foot the same as a foot?
Yes. “Linear” just makes clear you’re measuring length only, not area or volume.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot, cubic yard and gallon conversions. - Glossary: Board foot, Virginia Department of Forestry.
Used for: A board foot is 144 cubic inches (1 in × 12 in × 12 in).