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Convert square feet to linear feet for ordering lumber, flooring, decking, and other linear materials. Find out how much material you need for your project.
Linear Feet = Square Feet / Width (in feet)
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Remember to convert the width to feet if measured in inches (divide by 12).
Need to cover 400 sq ft with 5.5-inch deck boards:
400 / (5.5 / 12) = 400 / 0.4583
= 872.73 linear feet
Order about 960 linear feet (with 10% waste)
| Material | Width | Linear Ft per 100 Sq Ft | With 10% Waste |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2x4 Lumber | 3.5 inches | 342.86 | 377.14 |
| 2x6 / Deck Board | 5.5 inches | 218.18 | 240.00 |
| 2x8 Lumber | 7.25 inches | 165.52 | 182.07 |
| 2x10 Lumber | 9.25 inches | 129.73 | 142.70 |
| 2x12 Lumber | 11.25 inches | 106.67 | 117.33 |
| 1x12 Board | 11.25 inches | 106.67 | 117.33 |
Lumber and flooring are sold by linear feet, but projects are measured in square feet. This conversion tells you how much linear material to buy for your project area.
For decking with gaps between boards, add the gap width to your board width before calculating. For 5.5-inch boards with 1/4-inch gaps, use 5.75 inches as your effective width.
First calculate total linear feet needed, then divide by the board length to get the number of boards. Consider buying longer boards to reduce waste from cuts.
Always use actual dimensions for coverage calculations. A 2x6 nominal is actually 5.5 inches wide. Using nominal dimensions will result in ordering too little material.
Add 10% for simple rectangular projects, 15% for projects with many cuts or angles, and 20% for complex patterns or if the material has significant natural defects.
Measure your room in square feet, divide by the plank width to get linear feet, then add 10-15% waste. Check if flooring is sold by the carton and how much each carton covers.