How to Convert Linear Feet to Square Feet
Part of Area & Volume
Quick answer
Multiply the linear feet by the width of the piece in feet. For example, 200 linear feet of 6-inch-wide (0.5 ft) boards covers 200 × 0.5 = 100 square feet. To go the other way, divide the square footage by the width in feet.
Linear feet measure length and square feet measure area, so the bridge between them is the material's width. Once you know how wide each board or plank is, the conversion is a single multiplication.
The formulas
- Linear feet → square feet: linear feet × (width in inches ÷ 12).
- Square feet → linear feet: square feet ÷ (width in inches ÷ 12).
100 linear feet by board width
| Board width | Square feet from 100 linear ft |
|---|---|
| 3.5 in | 29 ft² |
| 5.5 in | 46 ft² |
| 7.25 in | 60 ft² |
| 11.25 in | 94 ft² |
FAQs
Can you convert linear feet to square feet without the width?
No. Square feet is length times width, so you must know the width of the material. Without it, linear feet only tells you total length, not area.