What is Linear Feet?
Linear feet (also known as lineal feet) is a measurement of distance or length in a straight line. Unlike square feet, which measure area (length x width), or cubic feet, which measure volume, linear feet focus solely on the 1-dimensional length of an object. This measurement is most commonly used in construction, woodworking, and home improvement projects.
How to Calculate Linear Feet
Calculating linear feet is straightforward once you know the total length of the material you are using. If you already have your measurement in feet, that measurement is your linear footage. However, if your measurement is in inches or yards, you will need to convert it:
- From Inches: Total Inches ÷ 12 = Linear Feet
- From Yards: Total Yards × 3 = Linear Feet
- From Feet: Total Feet = Linear Feet
For example, if you have a board that is 96 inches long, you divide 96 by 12 to get 8 linear feet.
Common Uses for Linear Feet
Understanding linear footage is essential when purchasing materials that are sold by the length. Common examples include:
- Lumber and Trim: Baseboards, crown molding, and 2x4 boards are almost always sold by the linear foot.
- Fencing: When planning a fence, you measure the perimeter of your yard in linear feet to determine how much fencing material you need.
- Textiles: Fabric rolls and carpets are often measured by linear length, though width is fixed.
- Kitchen Cabinets: Contractors often estimate the cost of new cabinetry based on the linear feet of the wall space they will occupy.
Linear Feet vs. Square Feet
The primary difference between linear and square feet is the dimension. Linear feet measure length alone. Square feet measure the surface area. For example, a 10-foot long board that is 1 foot wide is 10 linear feet, but it is also 10 square feet. If that same board were only 0.5 feet wide, it would still be 10 linear feet, but it would only be 5 square feet. Always check with your supplier to ensure you are ordering based on the correct metric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "Lineal Feet" the same as "Linear Feet"? Yes, in the construction industry, these terms are used interchangeably to describe a straight-line measurement of length.
How do I calculate linear feet for a deck? Measure the total length of all the deck boards combined. If you have 20 boards that are each 12 feet long, you have 240 linear feet of decking.