How to Calculate Linear Feet

Linear Feet Calculator

Total Area (Square Feet):

Material Width (Inches):

function calculateLinearFeet() { var totalSquareFeetInput = document.getElementById("totalSquareFeet").value; var materialWidthInInchesInput = document.getElementById("materialWidthInInches").value; var totalSquareFeet = parseFloat(totalSquareFeetInput); var materialWidthInInches = parseFloat(materialWidthInInchesInput); var linearFeetResultDiv = document.getElementById("linearFeetResult"); if (isNaN(totalSquareFeet) || isNaN(materialWidthInInches) || totalSquareFeet < 0 || materialWidthInInches <= 0) { linearFeetResultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for Total Area and Material Width."; return; } var materialWidthInFeet = materialWidthInInches / 12; var linearFeet = totalSquareFeet / materialWidthInFeet; linearFeetResultDiv.innerHTML = "

Result:

You will need approximately " + linearFeet.toFixed(2) + " linear feet of material."; }

Understanding Linear Feet

Linear feet is a measurement of length in a straight line. It's simply the number of feet along one dimension. While it sounds straightforward, it's often confused with other measurements like square feet, especially when purchasing materials.

Linear Feet vs. Square Feet

The key difference lies in dimensionality:

Linear Feet: Measures length (one dimension). For example, a 10-foot long piece of pipe is 10 linear feet. A roll of fabric might be sold by the linear foot, regardless of its width.
Square Feet: Measures area (two dimensions: length x width). For example, a room that is 10 feet long by 10 feet wide has an area of 100 square feet. Flooring, paint, and sod are typically sold by the square foot.

This calculator helps bridge the gap between these two measurements, particularly when you know the total area you need to cover and the width of the material you're using.

How to Calculate Linear Feet from Square Feet and Width

When you're buying materials like fabric, flooring, or fencing that come in rolls or fixed widths, you often need to convert your required square footage into linear feet. The formula is:

Linear Feet = Total Square Feet / Material Width (in feet)

Since material widths are often given in inches, you first need to convert the width from inches to feet by dividing by 12.

Example Calculation:

Let's say you need to cover an area of 150 square feet with a material that comes in a roll 48 inches wide.

Convert material width to feet:
48 inches / 12 inches/foot = 4 feet
Calculate linear feet:
150 square feet / 4 feet = 37.5 linear feet

So, you would need 37.5 linear feet of that 48-inch wide material to cover 150 square feet.

Why is this important?

Knowing how to calculate linear feet accurately ensures you purchase the correct amount of material, preventing costly over-ordering or frustrating shortages. This is crucial for projects involving:

Flooring (carpet, vinyl, linoleum)
Fabric and textiles
Fencing materials (rolls of wire, privacy screens)
Wallpaper
Rolls of insulation

Always remember to account for waste or pattern matching when ordering materials, and it's often wise to add a small percentage (e.g., 5-10%) to your calculated linear feet.