{
  "id": "linear-feet",
  "version": "f2359a618873",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Linear Feet Calculator",
  "question": "What is my linear foot total?",
  "summary": "Finds linear feet of boards, trim or fencing from square feet and the board width, from a count of pieces, or around a rectangle, with waste, boards to buy and cost.",
  "category": "construction",
  "subcategory": "materials",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/linear-feet-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/linear-feet-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Square feet: linear length = area ÷ (board width + gap). Pieces: number × length of each. Perimeter: 2 × (length + width). Then × (1 + waste ÷ 100); boards = length ÷ board length, rounded up; cost = linear feet × price per foot.",
  "assumptions": [
    "Extra for waste is 10% by default (TimberTech: add at least 10% to 15%; Trex: about 5%).",
    "Board width is the actual face width (5.5 in for a nominal 6 in deck board), plus the gap between boards, 3/16 in by default (TimberTech composite decking).",
    "Boards run the full length with no gaps at the ends; joins and patterns are covered by the waste share."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "mode": {
        "title": "Start from",
        "description": "An area to cover with boards, a number of pieces, or the edge of a rectangle.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "area",
          "pieces",
          "perimeter"
        ]
      },
      "a": {
        "title": "Area to cover",
        "description": "The floor, deck or wall area the boards cover.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "area",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "bw": {
        "title": "Board width",
        "description": "The actual face width of one board: a nominal 6 in deck board is 5.5 in.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "gap": {
        "title": "Gap between boards",
        "description": "The space left between boards, such as 3/16 in (0.1875 in) for composite decking. 0 for none.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "n": {
        "title": "Number of pieces",
        "description": "How many pieces there are.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "pl": {
        "title": "Length of each piece",
        "description": "The length of one piece.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000
      },
      "l": {
        "title": "Length",
        "description": "The length of the rectangle.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000
      },
      "w": {
        "title": "Width",
        "description": "The width of the rectangle.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000
      },
      "waste": {
        "title": "Extra for waste",
        "description": "Length to add for cuts, offcuts and mistakes, in percent: 5% to 15% is typical for decking.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "percent",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100
      },
      "bl": {
        "title": "Board length to buy",
        "description": "The length of the boards you will buy, such as 12 ft or 16 ft. Leave empty to skip.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000
      },
      "price": {
        "title": "Price per linear foot",
        "description": "The price of one foot of length. Leave empty to skip the cost.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "linearFeet": {
      "label": "Linear feet",
      "description": "The total running length, with the extra for waste, in feet.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "meters": {
      "label": "Linear metres",
      "description": "The same length in metres.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "yards": {
      "label": "Linear yards",
      "description": "The same length in yards (3 ft each).",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "boards": {
      "label": "Boards to buy",
      "description": "Linear length ÷ the board length, rounded up to a whole board.",
      "format": "integer"
    },
    "cost": {
      "label": "Cost",
      "description": "Linear feet × the price per linear foot.",
      "format": "money"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "mode": "area",
      "a": 18.580608,
      "bw": 0.1397,
      "gap": 0.004762499999999999,
      "n": 12,
      "pl": 2.4384,
      "l": 6.096,
      "w": 3.6576000000000004,
      "waste": 10
    },
    "outputs": {
      "linearFeet": 464.1758241758242,
      "meters": 141.4807912087912,
      "yards": 154.72527472527472
    },
    "text": "You need 464.18 linear feet (141.48 m)."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "mode": "area",
        "a": 18.580608,
        "bw": 0.1397,
        "gap": 0.004762499999999999,
        "waste": 10
      },
      "expect": {
        "linearFeet": 464.1758241758242,
        "meters": 141.4807912087912
      },
      "source": "TimberTech, How to Calculate How Much Decking You Need (5.5 in boards; at least 10% to 15% extra), https://www.timbertech.com/ideas/how-to-calculate-how-much-decking-you-need/; hand calculation in content.mdx: 200 × 144 ÷ 5.6875 ÷ 12 = 421.98 ft × 1.1 = 464.18 ft"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "mode": "area",
        "a": 13.378037760000002,
        "bw": 0.15239999999999998,
        "gap": 0,
        "waste": 0,
        "bl": 3.6576000000000004,
        "price": 2.5
      },
      "expect": {
        "linearFeet": 288,
        "yards": 96,
        "boards": 24,
        "cost": 720
      },
      "source": "Trex, How Many Deck Boards Do I Need? (deck depth in inches ÷ board width = boards across), https://www.trex.com/deck-ideas/how-many-deck-boards-do-i-need-/; hand calculation in content.mdx: 144 × 12 ÷ 6 = 288 ft; 288 ÷ 12 = 24 boards; 288 × $2.50 = $720"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "mode": "pieces",
        "n": 12,
        "pl": 2.4384,
        "waste": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "linearFeet": 96,
        "meters": 29.2608
      },
      "source": "NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C (1 ft = 0.3048 m); hand calculation in content.mdx: 12 × 8 = 96 ft = 29.2608 m"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "mode": "perimeter",
        "l": 6.096,
        "w": 3.6576000000000004,
        "waste": 5,
        "bl": 2.4384
      },
      "expect": {
        "linearFeet": 67.2,
        "boards": 9
      },
      "source": "Trex, How Many Deck Boards Do I Need? (5% extra for waste), https://www.trex.com/deck-ideas/how-many-deck-boards-do-i-need-/; hand calculation in content.mdx: 2 × (20 + 12) = 64 ft × 1.05 = 67.2 ft ÷ 8 = 8.4, so 9 boards"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "Trex, How Many Deck Boards Do I Need? (5.5 in board width; deck depth ÷ board width; 5% extra for waste). https://www.trex.com/deck-ideas/how-many-deck-boards-do-i-need-/ (retrieved 2026-10-01)",
    "TimberTech, How to Calculate How Much Decking You Need (5.5 in boards; at least a 1/8 in gap, 3/16 in for composite; add at least 10% to 15%). https://www.timbertech.com/ideas/how-to-calculate-how-much-decking-you-need/ (retrieved 2026-10-01)",
    "NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 ft = 12 in = 0.3048 m; 1 yd = 3 ft; 1 ft² = 144 in². https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c (retrieved 2026-10-01)"
  ],
  "related": [
    "board-foot",
    "square-footage",
    "deck",
    "feet-and-inches"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}