Linear Foot Calculator

What Is a Linear Foot?

A linear foot is simply a measurement of length equal to 12 inches or one foot, without regard to width or thickness. It measures distance in a straight line. When a lumber yard sells trim at $1.50 per linear foot, you pay $1.50 for every foot of length regardless of whether the trim is 2 inches wide or 6 inches wide. Linear footage is used to price and order molding, trim, fencing, piping, cable, fabric, countertops, and any other material sold by length. The calculator above converts your measurements to linear feet, inches, and meters, with optional cost estimation.

How to Calculate Linear Feet?

For a single piece, add the feet and convert any remaining inches to a decimal fraction of a foot (divide inches by 12). A piece 7 feet 6 inches long is 7.5 linear feet. For multiple identical pieces, multiply the single length by the quantity. Ten pieces at 7.5 feet each equals 75 linear feet. For room perimeter (baseboard, crown molding, chair rail), add all wall lengths. A 15 x 12-foot room has a perimeter of 54 linear feet. When material comes in standard lengths (8, 10, 12, 16 feet), divide your total linear footage by the piece length and round up to find the number of pieces to buy.

Linear Feet vs Square Feet vs Board Feet

Linear feet measure length only. Square feet measure area (length x width). Board feet measure volume (thickness x width x length / 12). Flooring, roofing, and paint are priced by the square foot because coverage depends on area. Trim, piping, and fencing are priced by the linear foot because cost depends on length. Hardwood lumber is priced by the board foot because cost depends on the volume of wood. Mixing up these units leads to major ordering errors. If a contractor quotes baseboard at $3 per linear foot, that covers one foot of length. If they quote flooring at $3 per square foot, that covers one square foot of floor area.

What Materials Are Sold by the Linear Foot?

Baseboard, crown molding, chair rail, and casing trim are sold by the linear foot at lumber yards. Fencing materials (rails, pickets, and boards) are priced per linear foot or per piece at a specified length. Countertops are quoted per linear foot (typically 25 inches deep), including material and edge treatment. Plumbing pipe (PVC, copper, PEX) is sold by the linear foot or in standard 10 and 20-foot sticks. Electrical wire and cable are priced per linear foot from spools. Fabric is sold by the linear yard (3 linear feet) at a specified bolt width. Gutters, downspouts, and rain chains are priced by the linear foot.

How to Convert Between Linear Feet and Other Units?

1 linear foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 meters = 30.48 centimeters. 1 meter = 3.281 linear feet. 1 yard = 3 linear feet. To convert linear feet to inches, multiply by 12. To convert inches to linear feet, divide by 12. The calculator above handles all of these conversions from your input. When working with international specifications or importing materials measured in meters, converting to linear feet ensures your order matches the quantity you need without purchasing too much or too little.

How to Estimate Material Cost from Linear Footage?

Multiply total linear feet by the price per linear foot. For 54 linear feet of baseboard at $1.25 per foot, the material cost is $67.50. Add waste (5-10%) before multiplying. With 10% waste: 54 x 1.10 = 59.4 linear feet, rounded up to 60, at $1.25 = $75.00. When material comes in fixed lengths, calculate the number of pieces (round up) and multiply by the per-piece price instead. Six 10-foot pieces of baseboard at $12.50 each = $75.00 for 60 feet of material, matching the per-foot calculation.

Linear Foot Pricing for Countertops

Countertop pricing per linear foot includes the material, standard edge profile, and a 25-inch depth. Laminate countertops run $10-$30 per linear foot. Butcher block costs $40-$80. Quartz ranges from $50-$150. Granite runs $50-$200. Marble costs $75-$250. A 10-linear-foot kitchen counter in quartz at $100 per foot costs approximately $1,000 for the material. Cutouts for sinks and cooktops, non-standard depths, waterfall edges, and backsplash additions are priced separately. When comparing countertop quotes, confirm what is included in the per-linear-foot price to avoid surprise add-ons.

Common Linear Foot Calculation Mistakes

Confusing linear feet with square feet is the most frequent error. Ordering 100 linear feet of 6-inch-wide baseboard provides 100 feet of trim. Ordering 100 square feet of the same baseboard would give you 200 linear feet (since each foot of 6-inch board covers 0.5 square feet). Another common mistake is forgetting to account for waste when dividing total length by piece length. If you need 54 feet and pieces come in 8-foot lengths, you need 7 pieces (56 feet), not 6.75 rounded to 7. The seventh piece provides only 2 usable feet from its 8-foot length, and the 6 remaining feet may or may not be usable depending on your cut layout.

Frequently asked questions