Square Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
Convert total area coverage into required material length.
What is the Difference Between Square Feet and Linear Feet?
Square feet measures area (two dimensions: length times width). Linear feet measures length (one dimension). When you are buying materials like decking boards, trim, or hardwood flooring, these items are often sold by the linear foot even though your project size is calculated in square feet.
How to Convert Square Feet to Linear Feet
To convert from square feet to linear feet, you must know the width of the material you are using. The basic formula is:
Linear Feet = Total Square Footage รท (Width of Material in Feet)
Imagine you are building a deck that is 200 square feet. You are using 6-inch wide boards (which is 0.5 feet).
Calculation: 200 / 0.5 = 400 Linear Feet.
If you add a 10% waste factor, you would order 440 linear feet.
The Role of Board Width and Gaps
Material width is the most critical factor. In construction, "nominal" sizes differ from "actual" sizes. For example, a "6-inch" deck board is usually actually 5.5 inches wide. Always use the actual width for accurate calculations. Furthermore, if you are installing decking with gaps for drainage (e.g., 1/8 inch), that gap acts as part of the width, reducing the total linear feet required.
Why Include a Waste Factor?
It is standard industry practice to add 5% to 15% for wastage. This accounts for boards that are warped, ends that need to be trimmed, and mistakes made during the cutting process. For complex patterns like herringbone, a 15-20% waste factor is recommended.