Linear Footage Calculator
Use this calculator to determine the total linear footage required for your project. Linear footage is a simple measurement of length, often used for materials like lumber, trim, fencing, or fabric, where the width or height is either standard or not the primary concern for quantity.
Result:
Understanding Linear Footage
Linear footage is a straightforward measurement that quantifies the total length of a material. Unlike square footage (which measures area) or cubic footage (which measures volume), linear footage only considers one dimension: length. This makes it incredibly useful for purchasing materials that are sold by their length, regardless of their standard width or height.
When is Linear Footage Used?
- Lumber and Trim: When buying baseboards, crown molding, or framing lumber, you typically need to know the total linear feet.
- Fencing: To determine how much fencing material you need for a property line, you'll measure the linear feet of the perimeter.
- Fabric and Textiles: While often sold by the yard, fabric can also be measured in linear feet, especially for large-scale projects.
- Piping and Conduit: For plumbing or electrical work, the length of pipes or conduits is measured in linear feet.
- Cables and Wiring: Estimating the amount of cable needed for an installation often relies on linear footage.
How to Calculate Linear Footage Manually
The calculation is very simple:
Total Linear Footage = Length of Each Piece × Number of Pieces
It's crucial that the "Length of Each Piece" is measured in feet for the result to be in linear feet. If your measurements are in inches, divide by 12 to convert to feet before multiplying.
Example Calculation:
Let's say you are installing new baseboards in a room. You've measured the walls and determined you need 8 pieces of baseboard, and each piece is 12 feet long.
- Length of Each Piece: 12 feet
- Number of Pieces: 8
- Total Linear Footage = 12 feet/piece × 8 pieces = 96 linear feet
Therefore, you would need 96 linear feet of baseboard material.
Another example: You are building a fence and need 25 fence pickets, each 6 feet long.
- Length of Each Piece: 6 feet
- Number of Pieces: 25
- Total Linear Footage = 6 feet/piece × 25 pieces = 150 linear feet
This calculator simplifies this process, allowing you to quickly get the total linear footage for your material needs.