Linear Feet Calculator

Add up linear feet or metres from pieces, or work out the boards to cover an area from their width, with the boards to buy and the cost.

Linear feet measure length only, whatever a board's width or thickness. 12 boards 8 ft long are 96 linear feet; add 6 boards 10 ft 6 in long and the total is 159 linear feet. Cut from 12 ft boards, though, those pieces take 18 boards, not 14, because each one leaves an offcut too short for another piece. This calculator adds up pieces of any length, in feet and inches or metres, and works out how many stock boards they'll take to cut. It can also work out the boards needed to cover an area from their width: 200 ft² of 5½ in deck boards laid with ⅛ in gaps takes 427 linear feet, or 469 ft with 10% extra for waste, which is 40 boards 12 ft long. Enter a price per linear foot or metre to get the cost.

Units
Pieces
ft
ft
Feet and inches work too: type 10'6 or 10.5.
ft
Linear feet
159 ft

48.46 m

Boards to buy
18

12 ft long, cut to your list

Linear yards
53 yd
Cost
–

enter a price

How it was worked out
  1. Row 1: 12 × 8 ft = 96 ft
  2. Row 2: 6 × 10'6 ft = 63 ft
  3. Cutting the pieces from 12 ft boards, longest first, takes 18 boards (216 ft bought)

Linear feet measure length only, whatever the board's width or thickness: 12 boards 8 ft long are 96 linear feet. Boards to buy fits your pieces into whole boards, longest first, so offcuts too short for another piece are wasted; it doesn't allow for saw cuts or bad ends.

Common use cases

  • Add up trim, skirting, fascia or fencing sold by the linear foot
  • Work out the deck boards, cladding or flooring strips to cover an area
  • Turn a cutting list into the number of boards to buy
  • Price timber quoted per linear foot or per metre

How to use

  1. Choose to add up pieces, or to cover an area.
  2. For pieces, enter how many of each length you need.
  3. For an area, enter the area, the board's face width, the gap between boards and an allowance for waste.
  4. Enter the length of the boards you'll buy, and a price if you want the cost.
  5. Read the linear feet or metres, the boards to buy and the cost.

FAQ

How do I calculate linear feet?

Add up the lengths in feet. For pieces that are all the same, multiply the number of pieces by the length of each: 12 boards × 8 ft = 96 linear feet.

How do I convert square feet to linear feet?

Divide the area by the board's width in feet. To cover 200 ft² with boards 5½ in wide plus a ⅛ in gap (5.625 in, or 0.469 ft), you need 200 ÷ 0.469 = 427 linear feet before waste. Use the face width, the part you see once it's laid.

What's the difference between linear feet and board feet?

Linear feet measure length only. Board feet measure volume: a board foot is 12 × 12 × 1 in, so it depends on width and thickness too. Hardwood is usually sold by the board foot, and trim and deck boards by the linear foot.

How many linear metres of decking do I need for 20 m²?

With 140 mm boards and 5 mm gaps, 20 m² ÷ 0.145 m = 138 m, or about 152 m with 10% for waste: 43 boards 3.6 m long.

Related tools

Results are estimates for planning and buying materials, worked out from the figures you enter and typical values (weights, coverage, sizes) that vary by product and supplier. They are not engineering, building or professional advice. Check your local building code, the product maker's instructions and your supplier's figures before you buy or build, and use a qualified professional for structural, electrical and gas work.