Linear Feet Calculator

Use this calculator to determine the total linear feet of material needed, especially when converting from a required square footage and knowing the material's width.

Area to Cover (Square Feet):

Material Width (Inches):

function calculateLinearFeet() { var totalAreaSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalAreaSqFt').value); var materialWidthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('materialWidthInches').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('linearFeetResult'); if (isNaN(totalAreaSqFt) || isNaN(materialWidthInches) || totalAreaSqFt < 0 || materialWidthInches <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.'; return; } var materialWidthFeet = materialWidthInches / 12; var linearFeet = totalAreaSqFt / materialWidthFeet; resultDiv.innerHTML = '

Calculation Result:

' + 'Total Linear Feet Required: ' + linearFeet.toFixed(2) + ' feet'; }

Understanding Linear Feet

Linear feet is a fundamental measurement used in various industries, from construction and home improvement to textiles and manufacturing. Unlike square feet (which measures area) or cubic feet (which measures volume), linear feet simply measures length. It's a straightforward concept: one linear foot is equal to one foot in length, regardless of the material's width or thickness.

When Do You Use Linear Feet?

You'll frequently encounter linear feet when purchasing materials that are sold by their length. Common examples include:

Lumber: Boards, trim, molding, and framing materials are often priced and sold by the linear foot.
Fabric: Textiles are typically sold by the linear yard or linear foot, depending on the region and type of fabric.
Fencing: Fencing materials, such as panels, posts, and rails, are often quoted in linear feet for a project.
Flooring: While flooring is often quoted in square feet, if you're using planks or tiles of a specific width, you might need to convert to linear feet for ordering.
Piping and Tubing: Plumbing and electrical conduits are sold by their length.

Calculating Linear Feet from Square Footage

One of the most common applications for a linear feet calculator is converting a required area (in square feet) into the equivalent linear feet of a material with a specific width. This is particularly useful for materials like flooring planks, wall panels, or fabric where you know the total area you need to cover and the width of the material you plan to use.

The formula for this conversion is:

Linear Feet = Total Area (Square Feet) / Material Width (Feet)

Since material width is often given in inches, you first need to convert inches to feet by dividing by 12.

How to Use the Calculator

Area to Cover (Square Feet): Enter the total area of the space or surface you need to cover in square feet. For example, if you're flooring a room that is 10 feet by 12 feet, the area would be 120 square feet.
Material Width (Inches): Input the width of the material you plan to use, measured in inches. For instance, if you're using flooring planks that are 6 inches wide, you would enter '6'.
Click "Calculate Linear Feet" to get your result.

Example Calculation

Let's say you need to cover a wall section that is 50 square feet with decorative wood panels that are 8 inches wide.

Area to Cover: 50 sq ft
Material Width: 8 inches

First, convert the material width to feet: 8 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.6667 feet.

Then, calculate the linear feet: 50 sq ft / 0.6667 ft = 75 linear feet.

So, you would need approximately 75 linear feet of the 8-inch wide panels.