Precise conversion between linear feet and square footage can be critical, saving you time, money, and inconvenience in a wide variety of projects–whether you’re a steel worker, a soccer mom, or an all-star weekend warrior. But what indeed are these terms, and how do you make sense of the conversion? This blog will dissect the difference between linear feet and square feet, what and how to convert between them, and when and why you might need to.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!What Are Linear Feet?
A linear foot is a way of measuring length. It’s one foot out, think of it like a straight line. Unlike square feet, with regard to length and width, a linear foot is simply a one-dimensional length.
For example:
- But when you buy 10 feet of wood for a project, you’re buying materials that are measured in linear feet.
- Likewise, a 30 foot long carpet roll is referred to in linear feet.
- Linear feet might be used to measure the perimeter of a house, or the length of a board.
- Key takeaway: Linear feet only measure length, making it a one-dimensional measurement.
What Are Square Feet?
A square foot is a measurement of area, the total surface area in a square. It uses the dimensions of your flat surface, which are length and width, in calculating its overall size. One square foot is a square that is 1 foot on each side.
For example:
- You have a room that is 10 feet by 10 feet, so it is 100 square feet.
- So, if you have a 5-foot long, 2-foot wide counter you multiply 5 to 2 to get 10 square feet of counter space.
- Square footage is primarily used to measure the area of a space or surface e.g. floor plans and wall space or a countertop.
Square feet measure two-dimensional space in a flat surface by taking account of the length of one side and multiplying it by another to get the total area.
How to Change Linear Feet to Square Feet
Converting from a number of linear feet to square feet is anything but possible since it very much depends on the width of the material or the space you want to cover. In order to perform this conversion, you must know the width, in feet, of the material being measured. The formula is as follows:
Formula:
- Square feet = Linear feet × Width (in ft)
- Step-by-Step Conversion Guide
- Measure the linear feet
- Determine the overall length of the material or space, in linear feet.
- Determine the width
- Measure (or use the approximate width) of the item or space in feet.
- Multiply the two numbers
Multiply the total lineal footage by the width in ft. to obtain square footage.
Example Conversion
- Let’s say you are laying carpet that is 10 linear feet in length and 3 feet in width. To compute total square footage:
- Square feet = 10 feet linear feet × 3 feet wide = 30 square feet
- That implies, the carpeting in a square yard covers 30 square feet.
- Usages of Linear Length to Area or Square Feet Converters
- So learning how to convert linear feet to square feet can be especially helpful in some real-world problems. Here are a few examples:
Example 1: Buying Flooring
If you’re purchasing wooden planks to cover the flooring in a room at your house and the boxed packaging says that each plank is 6 inches (or 0.5 feet) wide, it’d be helpful to know how much total area they’ll cover. If you are buying 100 linear feet or more of planks:
- Square footage = 100’ (length) x 0.5’ (width)
- Total = 50 square feet
Example 2: Installing Fencing
A wooden fence is 8 feet tall and you want the top and bottom to be inlaid with 6 inches each of composite decking. To measure the area of the fencing to be painted:
- Area = 50 linear feet × 8 feet (height of the wall) Square Feet
- Total = 400 square feet
Example 3: Formula Material Costs To Calculate the Material Costs for a Counter-top 1.
You’re going to install a new countertop that’s 12 linear feet and is 25 inches (2.08 feet) wide. To determine the area:
- Sq Ft = 12 L.F. × 2.08 (w)
- Total = 24.96 square feet
Keep in mind, it needs to be in square feet for budgeting purposes since most materials are sold by the square foot!
Converting Made Simple with Tools and Calculators
Uncomfortable doing the math yourself? Good news! There are a wide variety of online tools and calculators that can help. Here are a few you can try:
- Calculator Soup (www. calculatorsoup. com)
- Provides a convenient, free, linear feet (to lineal meters) and square feet to square meter calculator.
- RapidTables (www. rapidtables. com)
- Make easy conversions between square and linear measures.
Measurement Converter Apps
Grab apps such as “Measure by Google” or “Unit Converter Ultimate” on your smartphone for conversions on the fly.
Why Use Tools?
These calculators are particularly helpful for more complex projects in which you must account for multiple dimensions, or if you’re figuring costs for multiple materials.
Why This Conversion Rate is Important
Learning how to convert linear feet to square feet can help you to master home improvement projects by accurately estimating project costs, and also give you the confidence to effectively communicate with contractors and vendors. From doing-it-themselves homeowners and DIYers to ConstructionProject Managers, and even buyers of paint; understanding this concept will save you time and money.
Wrapping It Up
How to Convert Linear Feet to Square Feet Knowing how to convert linear feet to square feet is a handy little trick that can help you get the measurements you need without hassle. Has it had anything to do with the fact that these two measurements are just different by the simple formula below and then you can take away the guess work out of your next project.
Want to make more conversions? Investigate online calculators or seek out a professional to verify your estimates.
