Linear Foot Calculator

What Is a Linear Foot?

This linear foot calculator converts measurements and totals linear footage for any material order. A linear foot is simply one foot of length measured in a straight line — it has no width or height component. Unlike square feet (which measure area) or cubic feet (which measure volume), a linear foot measures only the one-dimensional extent of a material. When contractors order baseboard molding, gutters, pipe, or decking, they use linear feet because the cross-section of the material is fixed — you only need to specify how long a run is needed, not how wide or thick.

Linear feet are used throughout residential and commercial construction for:

• Trim and molding — baseboard, crown molding, chair rail, casing, and door/window trim are all priced and ordered by the linear foot
• Lumber and framing — dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6) is sold by the piece at a standard length in linear feet; softwood pricing is often quoted per linear foot for a specific species and size
• Decking boards — all deck boards are priced per linear foot; the calculator multiplies count by board length to get total LF needed
• Fence rails and pickets — rails run the full fence length; total linear footage tells you how many pieces to buy
• Gutters and downspouts — measured and installed by the linear foot
• Pipe and conduit — PVC pipe, copper tubing, and electrical conduit are all sold by the linear foot or per stick at standard lengths
• Countertops — kitchen countertops are frequently priced per linear foot of cabinet run, even though they have a fixed depth

The key confusion to avoid: a linear foot of 2×6 lumber contains more wood (more board feet) than a linear foot of 1×4, even though both are "one foot long." When comparing lumber prices, always check whether the quote is per linear foot (length only) or per board foot (volume) — these are completely different units.

How to Use This Linear Foot Calculator

Enter the number of pieces and the length of each piece — the calculator instantly returns total linear feet, total linear meters, and an optional material cost. It works for any material sold by the linear foot: dimensional lumber, decking boards, trim, baseboard molding, crown molding, fascia, and pipe. Select the unit that matches your tape measure (feet, inches, meters, or centimeters) and the conversion happens automatically. For lumber volume calculations, see our board foot calculator.

How to Calculate Linear Feet

The formula is straightforward: multiply the number of pieces by the length of each piece.

Total Linear Feet = Number of Pieces × Length per Piece (ft)

If your measurements are in inches, divide by 12 to convert to feet first. For example, a 96-inch board is 8 feet long. If your measurements are in meters, multiply by 3.28084.

Step-by-Step Example

1. Count how many pieces of lumber, trim, or molding you need
2. Measure (or look up) the length of each piece
3. Enter both values above and select the correct unit
4. Read off total linear feet and the optional cost estimate

Linear Feet vs. Board Feet — What Is the Difference?

Linear feet and board feet measure different things:

• Linear feet — length only. A 10-foot board is 10 linear feet, regardless of how wide or thick it is. Use linear feet for trim, molding, decking, baseboard, and pipe orders where the cross-section is fixed.
• Board feet — volume. One board foot equals a piece 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long (144 cubic inches). Use board feet when buying rough-sawn lumber where thickness and width vary by the cut.

Most home improvement stores sell dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6, 1×6) by the linear foot or per piece at a fixed length. Hardwood dealers and sawmills typically sell rough lumber by the board foot. If you are buying framing lumber, decking, or molding by the stick from a big-box store, linear feet is the right unit.

How to Convert Linear Feet to Meters

One foot equals 0.3048 meters exactly. To convert linear feet to meters, multiply by 0.3048. To convert meters to linear feet, multiply by 3.28084.

• 50 lf → meters: 50 × 0.3048 = 15.24 m
• 100 lf → meters: 100 × 0.3048 = 30.48 m
• 25 m → linear feet: 25 × 3.28084 = 82.02 lf

The calculator shows both units automatically in the result — no manual conversion needed. This is especially useful when ordering materials from suppliers who quote in meters.

Estimating Material Cost per Linear Foot

Most lumber yards and home improvement stores price trim and decking per linear foot. To estimate your total cost, enter the price per linear foot in the optional field above. The calculator multiplies total linear feet by the price to give you a material cost estimate.

• Dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6) — typically $0.50–$2.00/lf depending on species and grade
• Hardwood trim and molding — typically $1–$5/lf for poplar, oak, or pine
• Composite decking — typically $3–$8/lf for standard profiles
• PVC trim board — typically $1.50–$4.00/lf for rot-resistant exterior trim

Always add 10% to your calculated linear footage for waste, cuts, and end splits. For decking projects with diagonal layouts, add 15%. For a complete decking estimate including fasteners and framing, use our deck calculator.

Common Uses for Linear Foot Calculations

Linear foot calculations come up in almost every construction and remodeling project that involves long, narrow materials. Here are the most common applications:

• Baseboard and trim — measure the perimeter of each room and add 10% for joints and waste
• Crown molding — same as baseboard; deduct for door and window openings on exterior walls
• Decking boards — total deck area divided by board width, plus waste factor
• Fence rails — total fence run multiplied by number of rail courses
• Fascia and soffit — roof perimeter length for fascia; eave depth times perimeter for soffit
• Gutters and downspouts — measured and priced by the linear foot
• Lumber for framing — stud count times stud height plus plates for wall framing