Calculate price per linear foot for lumber, fencing, trim, fabric, and pipe. Compare costs across different lengths and materials instantly.
The Price Per Linear Foot Calculator helps you compare costs for any product sold by length — lumber, fencing, trim, pipe, fabric rolls, wire, carpet runners, and more. By converting total prices to a per-linear-foot cost, you can objectively compare different lengths, suppliers, and materials.
Construction projects, home improvements, and crafts often require purchasing materials by the foot. But when one supplier sells 8-foot boards and another sells 12-foot boards, or when one fabric roll is 50 yards and another is by the foot, direct price comparison becomes challenging without calculating the per-foot cost.
This calculator supports multiple length units (inches, feet, yards, meters) and includes a project estimator that helps you figure out total material cost based on how many linear feet you need. It also accounts for waste percentage, which is critical for cutting operations where some material is always lost. Check the example with realistic values before reporting.
Different suppliers sell materials in different lengths and units, making direct price comparison difficult. This calculator standardizes everything to price per linear foot and estimates total project costs including waste. Keep these notes focused on your operational context. Tie the context to the calculator’s intended domain. Use this clarification to avoid ambiguous interpretation. Align this note with review checkpoints.
Price Per Linear Foot = Total Price ÷ Total Length (in feet). Project Cost = Linear Feet Needed × (1 + Waste%) × Price Per Linear Foot.
Result: $1.56/linear foot — Project total: $171.60
An 8-foot board at $12.49 costs $1.56 per linear foot. For a 100-foot project with 10% waste, you need 110 linear feet: $1.56 × 110 = $171.60.
Linear foot pricing is the standard for any product sold by length: lumber, trim, fencing, pipe, wire, rope, and fabric. The key advantage of per-foot pricing is simplicity — you know exactly how much each foot costs and can multiply by your project needs. However, be aware that not all feet are equal: a linear foot of 2×4 lumber contains less wood than a linear foot of 2×12, so comparing different dimensions requires considering board feet or total volume.
Accurate material estimation prevents costly overbuying or frustrating shortages. Start by measuring every run in your project, recording each segment separately. For perimeter projects (fencing, baseboard), measure each wall or section and sum them. For linear projects (shelving, pipe runs), include all segments plus connections. Add your waste factor last — this should cover saw kerf (blade width), end cuts, defective sections, and measurement errors.
When comparing quotes from different suppliers, ensure you're comparing the same grade and species of material. A cheaper per-foot price on utility-grade lumber isn't a bargain if your project requires select grade. Also consider that prices often drop at quantity thresholds — buying 50+ linear feet may trigger a bulk discount. Ask about contractor pricing, which many suppliers offer for purchases over a certain dollar amount. Factor in delivery fees, which can add significantly to the per-foot cost for small orders.
A linear foot is simply one foot of length, measured in a straight line. Unlike board feet or square feet, it doesn't account for width or thickness — just length.
A board foot measures volume (1 ft × 1 ft × 1 inch = 1 board foot). A linear foot measures only length. Lumber is sometimes priced per board foot, which accounts for width and thickness.
For most cutting projects, plan for 10% waste. For angled cuts (like crown molding), use 15%. For pattern-matching (like siding), budget 15-20% waste.
Yes. Enter one product in feet and another in meters — the calculator converts everything to linear feet for comparison.
Yes. Fabric sold by the yard can be converted (1 yard = 3 feet). Note that fabric width varies, so factor in width if comparing bolts of different widths.
Divide your total project length by the board length, then round up. Add 10% for cuts and waste. The project estimator does this automatically.