Written By Melanie Morris
How to Calculate Linear Feet
The formula is straightforward: Linear feet = total inches/12
That’s it! Here’s how to apply that during a move:
- Measure the item. Use a tape measure to find the total length (in inches).
- Divide by 12. Convert the inches into linear feet.
- Add up your totals. Repeat for every item, then add the results together to get the total linear footage.
Example 1. A sofa measures 84 inches long. 84 / 12 = 7 linear feet.
Example 2. A bookshelf is 36 inches wide, and a dresser next to it is 42 inches wide. Placed side by side, the combined length is 78 inches. 78 / 12 = 6.5 linear feet.
Example 3. You have 3 moving boxes, each 18 inches long, lined up end to end. 18 × 3 = 54 inches total. 54 / 12 = 4.5 linear feet.
To convert any measurement to linear feet, divide the total inches by 12.
Inches to Linear Feet Conversion Chart
| Length in Inches (in.) | Linear Feet (ft.) |
|---|---|
| 12 in. | 1 ft. |
| 24 in. | 2 ft. |
| 36 in. | 3 ft. |
| 48 in. | 4 ft. |
| 60 in. | 5 ft. |
| 72 in. | 6 ft. |
To convert any measurement to inches from linear feet, multiply linear feet by 12.
Linear Feet to Inches Conversion Chart
| Linear Feet (ft.) | Inches (in. lengthwise) |
|---|---|
| 1 ft. | 12 in. |
| 5 ft. | 60 in. |
| 10 ft. | 120 in. |
| 15 ft. | 180 in. |
Linear Feet vs. Square Feet vs. Cubic Feet
You’ve likely heard the other two terms before, even if you’re unfamiliar with linear feet. These are the differences between all of them:
- A linear foot measures length in a straight line. It’s just measured end-to-end.
- A square foot measures area (length × width). Example: 12 in. × 12 in. = 1 square foot, or 144 square inches.
- A cubic foot measures volume (length × width × height). Example: 12 in. × 12 in. × 12 in. = 1 cubic foot, or 1,728 cubic inches.
Important: You can’t directly convert square feet or cubic feet into linear feet without knowing the width or height. Linear feet measure length only.
| Measurement Type | What It Measures | Formula | How It Applies to Moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear foot | Length | Total inches / 12 | Determines how much floor space your load takes up lengthwise in a truck or trailer. |
| Square foot | Area | Length × width | Used to compare floor plans, storage units, or how much floor area your furniture covers. |
| Cubic foot | Volume | Length × width × height | Describes total space of packed boxes or furniture occupied in a container, including height. |
Converting Square Feet to Linear Feet
To convert square feet to linear feet, divide the total area by the width of the space available:
Linear feet = square feet/width
This tells you how far your load will stretch along the floor of a truck or container. It’s especially useful when a freight carrier prices your move by linear footage rather than total area. The width in this formula should be the width of the truck or container, not the width of your items. Here are some sample conversions:
- Loading a moving container. The measurement of your belongings indicates they’ll cover about 30 square feet of floor space. The container is 8 feet wide. 30 / 8 = 3.75 linear feet of floor length.
- Splitting a freight trailer. You’re sharing trailer space with another shipment. Your items take up 40 square feet, and the trailer is 8 feet wide. 40 / 8 = 5 linear feet. That’s the section of the trailer your load needs.
- Comparing quotes. A carrier quotes you for 10 linear feet in a trailer that’s 8 feet wide. That means your load covers about 80 square feet of floor space (10 × 8). If another carrier measures in square feet, now you can compare the two.
Examples of Square Foot Configurations and Linear Feet
| Square Feet | Linear Feet (based on width) | Example Dimensions (L × W) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 sq. ft. | 10 ft. (1 ft. wide) | 10 × 1 |
| 5 ft. (2 ft. wide) | 5 × 2 | |
| ~3.3 ft. (3 ft. wide) | ~3.3 × 3 | |
| 20 sq. ft. | 20 ft. (1 ft. wide) | 20 × 1 |
| 10 ft. (2 ft. wide) | 10 × 2 | |
| ~6.7 ft. (3 ft. wide) | ~6.7 × 3 | |
| 30 sq. ft. | 30 ft. (1 ft. wide) | 30 × 1 |
| 15 ft. (2 ft. wide) | 15 × 2 | |
| 10 ft. (3 ft. wide) | 10 × 3 |
Converting Cubic Feet to Linear Feet
To convert cubic feet to linear feet, divide the total volume by the width and height of the space or items:
Linear feet = cubic feet/(width × height)
This tells you the length your items will occupy on the trailer floor, accounting for stacking. It’s helpful when you know the total volume of your shipment but need to figure out how many linear feet of truck space to reserve. For example:
- Stacking boxes in a truck. You have 40 cubic feet of boxes, stacked 4 feet high in a space that’s 2 feet wide. 40 / (2 × 4) = 5 linear feet of trailer floor.
- Loading a freight shipment. Your total shipment volume is 120 cubic feet. The usable height is 6 feet, and the width is 4 feet. 120 / (4 × 6) = 5 linear feet.
- Estimating for a moving container. You’ve calculated 120 cubic feet of belongings. The container’s usable space is 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. 120 / (5 × 8) = 3 linear feet of floor length.
Even when the total volume stays the same, the linear footage changes depending on how items are stacked and arranged. The table below shows how different base dimensions affect the linear feet a given volume occupies.
Examples of Volume and Linear Feet Configurations
| Cubic Feet | Linear Feet (based on height & width) | Example Dimensions (L × W × H) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cu. ft. | 0.25 ft. (2 × 2 base) | 2 × 2 × 0.25 |
| 0.17 ft. (3 × 2 base) | 3 × 2 × 0.17 | |
| 2 cu. ft. | 0.5 ft. (2 × 2 base) | 2 × 2 × 0.5 |
| 0.33 ft. (3 × 2 base) | 3 × 2 × 0.33 | |
| 5 cu. ft. | 1.25 ft. (2 × 2 base) | 2 × 2 × 1.25 |
| 0.83 ft. (3 × 2 base) | 3 × 2 × 0.83 | |
| 10 cu. ft. | 2.5 ft. (2 × 2 base) | 2 × 2 × 2.5 |
| 1.67 ft. (3 × 2 base) | 3 × 2 × 1.67 |
Where Are Linear Feet Used?
You’ll most often see linear feet used when pricing out space on a freight trailer or moving container. Whether you’re working with a carrier directly or using a platform like MovingPlace, it’s a helpful measurement to know before loading the truck or packing for your move.
- Moving trucks and trailers. Long-distance freight carriers and moving companies price shipments by the linear foot. The more floor space your belongings occupy from front to back, the more you pay.
- Moving containers. Companies that offer portable moving containers describe their sizing in terms of length. Understanding linear feet ensures you’re not paying for space you don’t need.
- Freight shipping. Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carriers share trailer space across multiple customers. Each customer is billed by the linear feet their shipment uses.
- Lumber and construction. Lumber is sold by the linear foot. When you buy a 2×4 that’s 8 feet long, you’re buying 8 linear feet of wood. Contractors use linear feet for framing, trim, baseboards, and other straight-line materials.
- Fencing and decking. Fence panels, deck boards, and railings are measured and sold in linear feet. If your backyard needs 60 feet of fencing, you’re ordering 60 linear feet of material.
- Countertops and flooring. Kitchen countertops are often priced by the linear foot. Floor planks and baseboards are also measured this way.
- Roofing and gutters. Gutters, flashing, and roofing trim are measured in linear feet. Roofing contractors calculate material needs along the edges and ridges of a roof using this measurement.
In the context of moving, linear feet matter most when you’re booking freight shipping, reserving a moving container, or getting long-distance quotes that factor in how much truck space your belongings need.
Karen Bodkin
