Price Per Linear Foot Calculator

Multiply price per linear foot by project length to get total material cost — this calculator also factors in a waste allowance, quantity of runs, and sales tax.

Quick Facts

Formula
Total cost = price per linear foot × length (ft)
A linear foot measures length only, not area — used for material sold by the running foot, like fencing, trim, gutter, and railing.

Your Results

Calculated
Total material cost
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Includes waste allowance and tax
Total linear feet to buy
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Length × quantity, plus waste
Extra footage from waste
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Additional length bought for cuts/scrap
Effective price per foot
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True cost per foot after waste & tax

Ready

Enter your length, price per foot, and waste allowance, then press Calculate.

Understanding price per linear foot

A linear foot is a straight-line measurement of length — one foot, measured along a run, with no allowance for width, height, or depth. It's the standard unit for pricing materials that come in a continuous run of fixed width or profile: fencing, baseboard and crown molding, gutter, deck railing, countertop edging, and pipe are all commonly sold "per linear foot" rather than by area or by the piece.

The core formula

The relationship is simple multiplication and division:

  • Price per linear foot = Total cost ÷ Length (ft) — use this to find the unit price from a quote.
  • Total cost = Price per linear foot × Length (ft) — use this to budget a project once you know the unit price.

This calculator uses the second form and extends it with three practical adjustments: a waste allowance (extra length purchased to cover cuts, seams, and mistakes), a quantity multiplier (for multiple identical runs, like several fence sections), and optional sales tax. The full calculation is:

  • Base length = length per run × quantity
  • Total length to buy = base length × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)
  • Material cost = total length to buy × price per linear foot
  • Total cost = material cost × (1 + tax % ÷ 100)
  • Effective price per foot = total cost ÷ base length (the true all-in cost per foot of finished run)

Worked example

Suppose you need 100 feet of fencing at $12.50 per linear foot, with a 10% waste allowance for corner cuts, one run, and no sales tax. Total length to buy is 100 × 1.10 = 110 feet. Material cost is 110 × $12.50 = $1,375. Since there's no tax, total cost is also $1,375, and the effective price per foot of finished fence line is $1,375 ÷ 100 = $13.75 — 10% higher than the quoted $12.50/ft because of the waste built into the order.

Choosing a waste allowance

Waste allowances are a matter of construction convention, not a fixed law: straight, simple runs (a fence along a flat property line) often use 5–10%, while runs with corners, angles, or pattern-matching (molding around a room with many corners, or patterned flooring) commonly need 15–20% or more. When in doubt, use the supplier's or installer's recommendation for your specific material.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a linear foot?
A linear foot is a straight-line measurement of length only — one foot measured along a run, regardless of width, height, or depth. It's used to price materials sold by length rather than area, such as fencing, molding, gutter, decking rail, and pipe.
How do you calculate price per linear foot?
Price per linear foot equals total cost divided by total length in feet: price/ft = total cost ÷ length. Rearranged, total cost = price per linear foot × length. This calculator applies that formula and adds an optional waste allowance, quantity, and sales tax so you can budget for what you actually need to buy.
Why add a waste allowance?
Real installations need extra material for cuts, seams, mistakes, and pattern matching. A 10% waste allowance is a common starting point for straight runs; irregular layouts, corners, or high-waste materials often need 15–20% or more.
Is price per linear foot the same as price per square foot?
No. Linear feet measure length only, while square feet measure area (length × width). Materials like flooring or countertops are usually priced per square foot; materials with a fixed width sold in a continuous run — fencing, gutter, trim, and railing — are priced per linear foot.

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