Square Feet to Linear Feet Calculator
Square feet measures area, and linear feet measures length, so there's no fixed ratio between them: you also need the board or plank width. Enter your area and board width to get the total linear feet.
How to calculate square feet to linear feet
Square feet alone can't convert to linear feet, you need the width of the boards or planks too. Convert the board width to feet (divide inches by 12), then divide the area in square feet by that width to get the total linear feet.
Linear feet = Area (ft²) ÷ Board width (ft)
Worked example
A 200 ft² room being floored with 6-inch-wide boards.
- Width = 6 in ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
- Linear feet = 200 ft² ÷ 0.5 ft
Result: 200 square feet with 6-inch boards = 400 linear feet
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert square feet to linear feet?
Divide your area in square feet by the width of the board or plank in feet. For example, 200 ft² of flooring with 6-inch-wide (0.5 ft) boards needs 200 ÷ 0.5 = 400 linear feet.
Why isn't there a fixed square feet to linear feet conversion factor?
Because area and length measure different things. The same 200 ft² room needs 400 linear feet of 6-inch boards but only 200 linear feet of 12-inch boards, the board width changes the answer.
How many linear feet of decking do I need per square foot?
It depends on the board width. A 6-inch (0.5 ft) board needs 2 linear feet per square foot; a 5.5-inch board needs about 2.18 linear feet per square foot. Enter your exact board width above for the precise figure.
Should I add extra for waste when ordering boards?
Yes. Add 10 to 15% extra linear feet to cover cutting waste, staggered seams, and mistakes, especially for angled or diagonal decking patterns.
Does board spacing (gaps) affect the linear feet I need?
Slightly, gaps between deck boards add a small amount to the effective width per board. For most residential decking the gap is small enough to ignore, but for exact ordering use the deck board calculator, which accounts for gap width directly.