For example, suppose you are installing a new kitchen countertop. Your plan might require a two-foot length from the wall to the sink, a three-foot length from the end of the sink to the corner, and another two-foot length to wrap around the corner.
In the countertop example, you need three pieces of two feet, three feet, and two feet. Thus, the total number of linear feet of countertop material that you need is 2+3+2=7 feet.
For example, suppose you have three pieces measuring 5'2", 4'6" and 3'8". If you convert each of these to inches, you get 62", 54" and 44". Add them to get a total of 160". Divide this by 12 inches per foot, and you will get a total of 13 feet, with four inches left over. Thus, the total linear footage is 13 feet, 4 inches.
As a running example, suppose you are planning to build a bookshelf. The sides of the bookshelf will be made with four 2 x 4 boards, one in each corner. The top, bottom, and three shelves in the middle are made from 1 x 12 boards. In this case, divide the building materials into two categories, 2x4’s and 1x12’s.
Take care not to measure the same pieces multiple times. It can be helpful to check off each board on a sketch of your project and label each piece with its length as you go. In the bookshelf example, suppose that the four 2x4s are each eight feet long and that the five 1x12 boards you use for the top, bottom, and shelves are all four feet long.
In the bookshelf example, since you have four eight-foot long corner pieces made from 2x4 boards and five pieces made from 1x12 boards (three shelves plus the top and bottom), you can calculate totals as follows: 2x4 boards: 8 feet times 4 boards = 32 linear feet 1x12 boards: 4 feet times 5 boards = 20 linear feet
In the bookshelf example, you need 32 feet of 2x4 boards and 20 feet of 1x12 boards. Suppose 2x4s sell for $1. 50 per linear foot and 1x12 boards sell for $2. 25 per linear foot. In this case, you would determine the costs of these materials by multiplying as follows: 2x4 boards: $1. 50 x 32 = $48 1x12 boards: $2. 25 x 20 = $45
For this example, suppose you are building a deck that is 12 feet long by 8 feet wide. The total area is (12 feet)(8 feet)=96 sq. ft. {\displaystyle (12{\text{ feet}})(8{\text{ feet}})=96{\text{ sq. ft. }}}.
For a deck of 96 square feet, using 6 inch (1/2 foot) wide boards, you need: linear feet=96 sq. ft. 1/2 feet=192 feet{\displaystyle {\text{linear feet}}={\frac {96{\text{ sq. ft. }}}{1/2{\text{ feet}}}}=192{\text{ feet}}}
For example, if you calculated a linear footage need of 192 feet, then you should get: 192∗1. 05=201. 6 feet{\displaystyle 1921. 05=201. 6{\text{ feet}}} 192∗1. 10=211. 2 feet{\displaystyle 1921. 10=211. 2{\text{ feet}}}
Upack. com provides a description of how to calculate the linear footage that you need in a moving truck. There is an online calculator based on the number of rooms that you plan to pack and move. [9] X Research source edeck. com is a company that sells outdoor deck building materials. On their site, you can choose the width of decking that you want, and it will calculate the linear footage for you. [10] X Research source
Some sites will allow you to select your own measurement units, such as feet or yards. Others are pre-programmed for a particular unit. Read the instructions carefully.
