What Is a Linear Foot?

Why linear feet are important

Measuring in linear feet is ideal for calculating how much space you’ll need in a moving container, moving truck or freight hauler. A linear foot refers to 12 inches in a straight line and is a one-dimensional measurement equivalent to a standard foot.

A linear foot is 12 inches in a straight line.

While it may also be important to know your rough cubic volume or weight, the majority of trucking services base their quotes on linear feet. Since most freight haulers can transport goods for more than one customer in a single trailer, they need an accurate estimate of how much floor space your belongings will take up.

» RELATED: How to rent a moving truck

How to measure in linear feet

Follow these steps to measure accurately in linear feet:

1. Use a tape measure. The best way to measure in linear feet is with a ruler or measuring tape that marks inches. Most standard rulers are exactly 12 inches long, but you may wish to use a longer measuring tape for larger items like couches, mattresses and shelves. 

2. Measure the length in inches. You can always convert inches to feet after you have your final amounts recorded. Lay the measuring tape in a straight line along the side of the item you want to measure. 

3. Repeat if needed. If you need the total linear feet of multiple items, measure each one in inches, then add the lengths together. 

4. Convert to feet. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, divide by 12 to convert inches to feet. For measurements that are not exact multiples of 12 inches, you can use either feet and inches or a decimal. For example, 54 inches can be expressed as four feet six inches or 4.5 feet.

For example, if you need to find the dimensions of a bookcase in linear feet, start by measuring in a straight line from the bottom of the bookcase to the top. This will give you the bookcase’s height in linear feet and inches. Next you can measure from side to side and back to front to get its width and depth.

Using linear feet has broad applications whenever you need to measure in feet and inches. However, if you need the metric equivalent, one linear foot equals 30.48 centimeters.

When to measure by linear feet

The linear foot is a one-dimensional unit you can use to measure anything in a straight line. For example, you might use linear feet to measure the length of a rug to find out if it will fit in your living room, the length of a fence to determine how much lumber you’ll need for a repair, or the height of a stack of boxes to estimate how much trailer space they’ll take up.

Freight companies often use linear feet when quoting rates to relocate goods over long distances. When you reserve space with a freight carrier, you’ll only pay for the space you’ll actually use, so accurate measurements are required — you can’t simply say you need enough space for a one- or two-bedroom house.

Linear feet are also used in the home improvement industry to measure items like dimensioned lumber, trim, fencing, flooring, carpet, countertops and piping. Pricing for these products is typically based on linear footage.

Measure once you’re packed

It’s crucial to take measurements at the right stage in the moving process. This should ideally happen once all of your household items are packed in boxes and stacked in one area. This will then give you an idea of what your things will look like once they’re loaded into a container, and you can give accurate measurements to trucking companies and get realistic quotes.

To estimate how many linear feet of moving trailer space you’ll need and how much you can expect to pay, follow these steps:

1. Choose a central location. Moving trailers are typically eight feet wide and seven to eight feet high, so pick a spot where you'll have at least that amount of space to work with. You can check with your carrier to find out the exact dimensions of their trailers. 

2. Stage your items. Start arranging your furniture and boxes in a tight, eight-foot-wide group; imagine that you’re loading a trailer, starting at the back. Stack any boxes or other items that you expect to be stacked when the trailer is loaded, remembering that the trailer ceiling is likely to be seven or eight feet high. Maintain the same width and height as you continue gathering and stacking. 

3. Measure the length of the load. Once you have your furniture and stacked boxes arranged in an eight-foot-wide column, measure along the floor from back to front in inches, then divide by 12. This will give you the amount of trailer floor space your items will take up in linear feet. 

4. Repeat if necessary. If you’re unable to get all of your things into one space, you may need to go through this process more than once. If so, measure each grouping, then add the results together. The sum of these lengths will give you the total linear feet you’ll need. (It’s a good idea to round up to avoid underestimating.)

5. Find the cost. If you know your carrier’s price per linear foot, multiply the number of linear feet you’ve estimated by that amount. This will give you an idea of your final cost.

Know your total linear feet

Knowing your total linear feet is a good place to start when contacting moving companies. However, they may ask for more information, like square footage and approximate weight. They may even ask for pictures to ensure you get the right size truck and avoid additional fees on moving day if you underestimate your needs.

Hiring a reputable company can greatly reduce the chance of errors like this. For instance, Marvin, a reviewer from Florida was pleased with Colonial Van Lines’ attention to measurements and the overall move.

“They called me to make sure that I was on the mark for the actual moving date, whether or not I had more boxes than I anticipated,” Marvin said. “They increased the size of my order, which made me hesitant, but ultimately, it meant that I was paying less per pound. So everything worked out. They anticipated my size very accurately by my descriptions from their questions.”

» RELATED: Where to find moving boxes

Calculating linear vs. square vs. cubic feet

A linear foot measures the length of a straight line, while a square foot measures the area of a surface and a cubic foot measures the volume of a three-dimensional space.

How to calculate square feet

To calculate square footage, you’ll need to multiply two separate measurements, like length and width, length and height or width and height. So, if you want to know how much space your couch will take up on your living room floor, measure the length and depth of your sofa, then multiply the two measurements.

Because most measurements won’t result in even feet, it may be easier to measure in inches. If you want to convert square inches to square feet, divide the square inch total by 144.

For example, if your couch is 6 feet 8 inches long and 3 feet wide, you would multiply 80 inches (6 feet plus 8 inches) by 36 inches (3 feet), which equals 2,880 inches. Then, you’ll divide by 144, which equals 20 square feet.

How to calculate cubic feet

In comparison, cubic feet measures volume, which is the amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies. To calculate cubic feet, you’ll multiply the length, width and height of an item. This is especially helpful when packing shipping containers or moving trucks to understand how much room your items will take up overall.

For example, if a box is 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high, the calculation would be: 3 x 2 x 2 = 12 cubic feet.

Linear feet vs. board feet

Note that linear footage is not the same as board footage. While a linear foot measures only one dimension at a time (such as length, width or height), a board foot expresses the volume of a piece of lumber. One board foot is equivalent to a piece of wood that is one foot long, one foot wide and one inch thick.

FAQ

Bottom line

A linear foot is a unit of measurement referring to 12 inches in a straight line. You can measure the length, width or height of anything in linear feet; what makes this measurement different from square feet or cubic feet is that it is strictly one-dimensional.

Getting precise measurements in linear feet can help ensure a smooth moving experience and prevent costly mistakes. If your measurements aren’t accurate, you may not have enough room for all your things when packing a moving truck, which can result in delays or additional fees. You can avoid these complications by getting your measurements right the first time.