Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
One foot equals one linear foot. This linear feet calculator converts any length unit (feet, inches, yards, meters, centimeters, or millimeters) into linear feet for pricing flooring, siding, fencing, trim, and lumber. It also handles square feet to linear feet conversions when you know the material width.
What is a Linear Foot
A linear foot is simply a foot of length measured in a single dimension. 1 ft = 1 linear ft. The term exists to distinguish length from square feet (area) and cubic feet (volume). When a lumber yard sells 1x6 pine at $2.50 per linear foot, they mean $2.50 for every foot of length regardless of the board's width or thickness.
How to Calculate Linear Feet
To calculate linear feet, measure the length in feet. If you have measurements in other units:
- Inches to linear feet: divide by 12. 60 inches = 5 linear feet.
- Yards to linear feet: multiply by 3. 10 yards = 30 linear feet.
- Meters to linear feet: multiply by 3.28084. 5 meters = 16.4 linear feet.
- Centimeters to linear feet: multiply by 0.0328084. 300 cm = 9.84 linear feet.
Square Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
Converting square feet to linear feet requires the width of your material in inches:
Linear feet = Square feet × 12 ÷ material width in inches
Examples using this formula:
- 100 linear feet to square feet with 6-inch planks: 100 × 6 ÷ 12 = 50 sq ft.
- 1300 sq ft to linear feet with 5-inch siding: 1300 × 12 ÷ 5 = 3,120 linear feet.
- 400 linear feet to square feet with 4-inch trim: 400 × 4 ÷ 12 = 133 sq ft.
- 200 linear feet to square feet with 6-inch planks: 200 × 6 ÷ 12 = 100 sq ft.
Linear Feet for a Room
For a rectangular room, linear feet of perimeter = 2 × (length + width). A 12x12 room has 2 × (12 + 12) = 48 linear feet of perimeter, useful for ordering baseboard, crown molding, or trim.
How to Calculate Linear Feet for a Fence
Add up the straight-line length of every fence run. A rectangular yard with three sides fenced (50 ft + 100 ft + 50 ft) needs 200 linear feet of fencing. Include gates in the total, then subtract gate openings when counting pickets.