1️⃣ Linear Feet Calculator helps you measure length, perimeter, and material usage instantly
perfect for builders, contractors, and DIY home projects.
2️⃣ With the Linear Feet Calculator, you can convert feet, inches, and square footage in seconds
to estimate materials, costs,and project dimensions accurately.
3️⃣ Linear Feet Calculator is your all-in-one tool to plan fences, trims, countertops, and stair rails
saving time, reducing waste, and ensuring precise measurements every time.
What Is a Linear Foot?
A linear foot (often called a lineal foot) is a measurement of length in a straight line.
It represents exactly 12 inches — regardless of the item’s width, height, or thickness.
In simple terms, if something measures one foot long, it equals one linear foot.
✅ Example:
→ 1 linear foot = 12 inches
→ 2 linear feet = 24 inches
→ 3 linear feet = 36 inches
The measurement stays linear — it only accounts for the straight distance.
| Measurement | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Foot | Length in one straight line | 12 inches = 1 ft |
| Square Foot | Length × Width (Area) | 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 ft² |
| Board Foot | Thickness × Width × Length ÷ 12 | 1×12×12 ÷ 12 = 12 bdft |
💡 Tip: Linear feet measure only the straight length — not the area or volume.
Always keep width and height out of the calculation.
How to Calculate Linear Feet (Step-by-Step Guide)
Learn how to calculate linear feet for any project — boards, trim, fencing, or handrails — using simple steps. This works whether your inputs are in feet or inches (useful for an inches to linear feet calculator scenario).
- Measure the length of each piece in feet (or convert inches ÷ 12).
- Add all lengths together to get the total linear feet (LF).
- Add waste % (e.g., cuts, overlaps):
Total × (1 + Waste%). - If you buy fixed lengths, divide by the piece length to find the number of pieces.
Formulas:
• Feet to linear feet: LF = ft
• Inches to linear feet: LF = inches ÷ 12 (feet to linear feet calculator / inches to linear feet calculator)
• Total with waste: LFtotal = Σ(lengths) × (1 + waste%)
• Pieces needed: Pieces = LFtotal ÷ piece_length(ft)
✅ Example: 4 boards × 10 ft = 40 LF. Add 10% waste → 44 LF total.
Buying 10-ft pieces? Pieces = 44 ÷ 10 = 4.4 ≈ 5 pieces.
💡 For pricing (how to calculate per linear foot): multiply total LF by your price per LF, then add taxes/fees.
Linear Feet vs Square Feet – What’s the Difference?
One of the most common confusions in measurement is between linear feet and square feet.
A linear foot measures length only, while a square foot measures area (length × width).
They’re related but serve very different purposes.
| Type | What It Measures | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear Feet (LF) | Straight length or perimeter | Sum of all sides (L1 + L2 + …) | 12×12 room → 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48 LF |
| Square Feet (ft²) | Total area (surface) | Length × Width | 12×12 room → 12 × 12 = 144 ft² |
So while 48 linear feet defines the perimeter length of a 12×12 room,
144 square feet defines its floor area. You’ll use linear feet for trim, fencing, or countertops,
and square feet when calculating flooring, paint, or total coverage.
👉 Need to convert between them?
Try our Square Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
to find perimeter or length based on area and width.
💡 Pricing tip: if you’re quoted by square foot but charged per linear foot,
divide the area (ft²) by the width of the material to estimate the equivalent cost per linear foot.
Practical Uses — When to Use Each Mode
Each mode in the Linear Feet Calculator serves a different purpose — from simple trim work to advanced cost estimation.
Here’s a quick guide on when and why to use each one.
| Mode | Best For | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Trim / Perimeter | Room edges, baseboards, interior molding | Measure wall perimeter for trim installation |
| Fencing / Gutters | Outdoor fences, gutters, rail runs | Ideal linear feet calculator for fence and exterior projects |
| Boards / Countertops | Lumber, kitchen counters, marble slabs | Perfect linear foot calculator for wood and countertop materials |
| Stair Handrail | Handrails, stair trims, safety rails | Calculates exact railing length — a dedicated stair handrail calculator |
| Arc Length | Circular fences, rounded edges, arches | Find length of a 90° or 180° curve with radius input |
| Cost Estimator | Material pricing, project budgeting | Includes total cost for materials like water lines (1000 ft) or shipping freight by linear foot |
Each mode is tailored to real-world tasks — from home improvement to industrial logistics.
Whether you’re estimating trim for a 12×12 room, calculating freight in linear feet,
or checking the cost to run a 1000-foot water line, you’ll get precise, practical results instantly.
Cost & Pricing Calculations
Knowing how to calculate cost per linear foot helps you budget projects accurately — whether it’s wood trim, fencing, wiring, or countertops.
The Cost Estimator mode acts as a price per linear foot calculator and even works like a simple calculator app for quick material pricing.
✅ Example: If price = $3.75 per linear foot and total length = 125 LF,
the total cost = $3.75 × 125 = $468.75.
Add 8% tax ($37.50) and $25 extra fees → Final cost = $531.25.
| Item | Rate / Unit | Quantity | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Cost | $3.75 / LF | 125 LF | $468.75 |
| Tax (8%) | — | — | $37.50 |
| Extra Fees | — | — | $25.00 |
| Total Project Cost | $531.25 | ||
When comparing estimates, remember that price per linear foot and cost per square foot serve different purposes.
Linear pricing is for items sold by length (like wire or railing), while square foot pricing applies to surfaces (like flooring or walls).
💡 Tip: Always include taxes, waste allowance, and extra fees for an accurate total.
You can also calculate sales per linear foot by dividing total revenue by total LF sold.
Linear Feet Conversion Table
This quick reference table helps you convert between inches, feet, and square feet using the same logic as the
Linear Feet Calculator.
It’s especially useful when working with mixed units — for example, converting wall area in square feet into total trim length in linear feet.
| Conversion | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inches → Linear Feet | ÷ 12 | 120 in = 10 LF |
| Feet → Linear Feet | Same value | 10 ft = 10 LF |
| Square Feet → Linear Feet | Area ÷ Width (ft) | 60 sq ft ÷ 5 ft width = 12 LF |
| Linear Feet → Square Feet | LF × Width (ft) | 10 LF × 2 ft = 20 sq ft |
These conversions are commonly used in construction, woodworking, and flooring projects.
If you’re unsure about your result, the Linear Feet Calculator above can instantly verify any of these formulas and handle unit conversions automatically.
💡 Tip: Always keep units consistent — mix-ups between inches, feet, and square feet are the most common source of error in linear measurements.
Material Use by Project Type
This table helps you quickly identify which Linear Feet Calculator mode fits your project best.
Whether you’re installing baseboards, building a fence, or measuring a stair handrail, you can easily see how to apply the right formula and cost in your local currency.
| Project Type | Recommended Mode | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Room trim / molding | Trim / Perimeter | Baseboard around 12×12 ft room → 48 LF |
| Fence or Gutter | Fencing / Gutters | 100 ft fence + 4 corners = 128 LF — try our linear feet calculator for fence |
| Countertop / Wood boards | Boards / Countertops | 28 LF × 6 in width = 14 sq ft — use it as your linear foot calculator for wood |
| Stair handrail | Stair Handrail | 14 steps → ~17 LF — calculate it easily with our stair handrail calculator |
| Arc or circular section | Arc Length | 90° arc radius 6 ft = 10.4 LF |
| Project estimation | Cost Estimator | 125 LF × $3.75 = $531.25 total cost (auto-adjusts by region: £, €, CA$, etc.) |
Each project type uses a different calculator mode, ensuring accurate measurements and localized pricing.
Prices are displayed in USD by default but can automatically switch to GBP, EUR, CAD, or your local currency for better clarity.
FAQs — Common Questions About Linear Feet
Here are some of the most common questions people ask about linear feet and how to calculate them.
Each answer is short, practical, and directly related to real-world measurement or pricing scenarios.
How to calculate per linear foot?
Multiply the price per linear foot by the total number of linear feet.
Example: 50 LF × $4.00 = $200 total. This method applies to lumber, fencing, and similar materials.
How to calculate linear feet?
Add all measured lengths in feet. If your measurements are in inches, divide by 12 first.
Example: (36 in ÷ 12) + (60 in ÷ 12) = 8 linear feet total.
What is the linear feet of a 12×12 room?
Add all wall lengths: 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48 linear feet.
Use this when measuring baseboards, crown molding, or room trim.
How many linear feet are in 1 ft?
One foot equals one linear foot — the terms are identical when measuring straight length only.
How much is 3 linear feet?
3 linear feet = 36 inches in a straight line. The cost depends on your unit price —
if $5 per LF, then 3 LF × $5 = $15 total.
How much is 2 linear feet?
2 linear feet = 24 inches. Multiply by your price per LF to find total cost
(e.g., $4.50 × 2 = $9.00).
How to calculate price per foot of wire?
Divide total cost by total length.
Example: $250 for 500 ft of wire → $250 ÷ 500 = $0.50 per foot.
How to calculate sales per linear foot?
Divide your total sales revenue by total linear feet sold.
Example: $2,400 sales ÷ 600 LF = $4.00 per LF. Useful for retail and inventory analytics.
How much is a 200 linear feet fence?
Multiply the total fence length by your per-foot cost.
Example: 200 LF × $18 per LF = $3,600 estimated cost for materials and labor.
Related Tools & Complementary Calculators
The following tools work perfectly alongside our Linear Feet Calculator.
Each one helps you handle different shapes or unit types that often appear in real construction or remodeling projects.
| 🔗 Tool | 🧩 How It Relates to Linear Feet | 🎯 Target Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Square Footage Calculator | Converts area to total surface — useful when estimating both area (ft²) and perimeter (LF). | feet to linear feet calculator, square feet to linear feet calculator |
| Rectangle Area Calculator | A perfect match since most rooms and fences start as rectangles — helps convert area to perimeter. | what is the linear feet of a 12×12 room, area to perimeter |
| Circle Area Calculator | Complements the Arc Length mode — ideal for circular fences, round decks, and arcs. | arc length calculator feet |
| Triangle Area Calculator | Useful for angled roofs, gables, or sloped edges — supports “roofing linear feet” and wood layouts. | linear foot calculator for wood |
| Ellipse Area Calculator | Shows flexibility of your measurement toolkit — handles irregular curves and soft edges. | linear feet calculator app, price per linear foot to square feet |
| Sector Area Calculator | Converts between ft², m², and in² — perfect for mixed-unit projects or global users. | feet to linear feet calculator, inches to linear feet calculator |
Together, these tools expand the functionality of your Linear Feet Calculator —
letting users move seamlessly between area, perimeter, and arc measurements while maintaining consistent unit accuracy across inches, feet, and meters.
Conclusion — Simplify Your Project Planning
With the Linear Feet Calculator, you can instantly find accurate measurements, estimate costs,
and convert between linear and square footage for any project — from room trim and wood boards to fencing and handrails.
Whether you’re a DIY homeowner or a contractor, this tool helps you plan smarter and save both time and material.
📗 For more official information on linear and area measurements, visit
NIST – U.S. Customary Units & Measurement Standards