Wood Square Footage to Linear Footage Calculator
Divide the square footage you need to cover by the board’s actual width (in feet) to get linear feet, then add a waste buffer for trimming and defects.
Quick Answer
Divide the square footage you need to cover by the board’s actual width (in feet) to get linear feet, then add a waste buffer for trimming and defects.
Wood Square Footage to Linear Footage Calculator
Enter your values below for an instant result, then see the formula, worked example, and common mistakes.
Enter your values and click calculate.
How to Use This Calculator
This is the total area you need to cover — a floor, wall, deck, or panel surface.
A nominal 1×6 board is actually 5.5 inches wide, not 6. Using nominal width will under-order material. Check the product spec or measure a sample board.
Divide your total square footage by the board’s actual width in feet (width in inches / 12) to get linear feet needed.
10% covers typical trimming, end-cuts, and defect culls; increase for angled cuts or lower-grade lumber with more defects.
Formula
Linear feet = Square feet / (Board width in inches / 12). Board feet (for 1-inch nominal thickness) = Linear feet x (Board width in inches / 12).
Reference Table: Nominal vs Actual Board Widths (Softwood Dimension Lumber)
| Nominal size | Actual width |
|---|---|
| 1×4 | 3.5 in |
| 1×6 | 5.5 in |
| 1×8 | 7.25 in |
| 1×10 | 9.25 in |
| 1×12 | 11.25 in |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using nominal width (e.g. 6 inches for a 1×6) instead of actual dressed width (5.5 inches) — this alone can under-order material by 5-10% or more.
- Forgetting that tongue-and-groove or shiplap boards have a narrower effective coverage width than their full board width because of the overlap.
- Not adding a waste buffer for trim ends, defect culls, and staggered end-joints in flooring/paneling layouts.
- Mixing up board feet (a volume measurement used for pricing rough lumber) with linear feet (a length measurement used for ordering finished boards).
When the Estimate May Be Wrong
If your boards have a tongue-and-groove or shiplap edge, the effective coverage width is less than the full board width because part of the board overlaps its neighbor — check the manufacturer’s stated coverage width, not the raw board width, for those products.
FAQs
How do I convert square footage to linear footage for flooring?
Divide the square footage by the board’s actual (not nominal) width in feet.
What is the actual width of a 1×6 board?
A nominal 1×6 board is actually 5.5 inches wide after milling, not a full 6 inches.
Why does my linear footage estimate seem too low?
You are likely using the board’s nominal width instead of its actual dressed width, or not accounting for tongue-and-groove overlap.
Sources and Methodology
Nominal-to-actual dimension lumber sizes reflect the American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20), the standard dressed-lumber sizing used by US and Canadian sawmills, current as of 2026.
