Linear feet and lineal feet mean exactly the same thing: one foot of length measured in a straight line. There is no difference in the measurement. What differs is which industries and regions prefer which word, and that is the entire substance of the distinction.
Looking for units that actually differ? See Linear Feet vs Square Feet or Board Feet vs Linear Feet.
About pricing on this page
This calculator is intentionally price-light. Absolute dollar figures are deliberately omitted because they vary too widely by region, brand, and installer to be useful as planning estimates. The relative-comparison tables below show how options stack up against each other — which is the durable, actionable information. For a real budget, get two or three written quotes from local suppliers and contractors after they have seen the job.
Linear / Lineal Foot Converter
Either term converts identically. Enter a length and price to get a total.
The Short Answer
Linear foot = lineal foot = running foot = 1 foot of length. All three terms describe the identical measurement. Any of them can be abbreviated LF.
If a supplier quotes you 200 lineal feet of trim and another quotes 200 linear feet, they are quoting the same quantity. There is no conversion factor and no hidden difference. You can compare the two prices directly.
Strictly speaking, "lineal" is the older adjective meaning "of or relating to a line," and it also carries a sense of descent through a family line. "Linear" is the more modern general-purpose term. In the building trades the words drifted into interchangeable use decades ago, and no supplier today intends a technical distinction between them.
Which Term Each Industry Prefers
Knowing the local convention helps you read quotes, but it never changes the arithmetic.
| Industry | Preferred Term | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|
| Lumber and millwork | Lineal foot | Trim, moulding, dimensional lumber |
| General construction | Linear foot | Fencing, gutters, concrete curb |
| Freight and LTL shipping | Linear foot | Trailer floor space occupied |
| Kitchen and bath | Linear foot | Cabinets, countertops |
| Flooring | Linear foot | Transition strips, baseboard |
| Fencing contractors | Linear foot | Fence runs, per-foot pricing |
| Australia and NZ | Lineal metre | Timber and trim (metric) |
| Records management | Linear foot | Shelf space for archives |
Units That Actually Differ
These are the comparisons worth understanding, because unlike linear versus lineal, they involve real differences.
| Unit | Dimensions | Measures | Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear / lineal foot | 1 | Length only | Trim, fence, pipe, gutters |
| Square foot | 2 | Area | Flooring, paint, tile, drywall |
| Cubic foot | 3 | Volume | Concrete, mulch, freight space |
| Board foot | 3 | Lumber volume (144 cu in) | Hardwood lumber |
| Square yard | 2 | Area (9 sq ft) | Carpet, sod, commercial flooring |
| Cubic yard | 3 | Volume (27 cu ft) | Concrete, gravel, soil |
| Linear yard | 1 | Length (3 ft) | Fabric, some roll goods |
| Roofing square | 2 | Area (100 sq ft) | Shingles |
The pairing that actually causes costly mistakes is linear feet versus square feet, since those two are frequently confused on flooring and trim orders. Linear versus lineal never causes a problem beyond momentary confusion.
Related Terms Worth Knowing
Running Foot
Another synonym for linear foot, most often heard in countertop and cabinetry work and in some regional fencing markets. A quote of 22 running feet of granite means 22 feet of countertop length. Like lineal, it carries no difference in measurement and abbreviates the same way.
Lineal Metre
The metric equivalent, standard in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK timber trade. One lineal metre is 3.28084 linear feet. When comparing an imported quote in lineal metres against a domestic quote in linear feet, multiply the metre figure by 3.28084 before comparing prices.
Board Foot Is Not a Length Unit
This is the distinction that costs money if you get it wrong. A board foot measures volume — 144 cubic inches — and accounts for thickness and width as well as length. Twelve linear feet of 1 × 12 equals 12 board feet, but twelve linear feet of 1 × 6 equals only 6 board feet. Hardwood is sold by board foot, softwood usually by the piece or linear foot.
Linear Inches for Luggage
Airlines measure bags in linear inches, meaning the sum of length plus width plus height. A 62 linear inch limit does not describe a single dimension at all. This is a different convention that borrows the word, and it has nothing to do with linear feet in construction.
How These Terms Show Up in Real Trades
Each construction trade has settled on one term and stuck with it, even when the differences are meaningless. Knowing which one your supplier and your region use prevents miscommunication on quotes.
| Industry | Preferred Term | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|
| Lumber and millwork | Lineal foot | Trim, moulding, dimensional lumber |
| General construction | Linear foot | Fencing, gutters, concrete curb |
| Freight and LTL shipping | Linear foot | Trailer floor space occupied |
| Kitchen and bath | Linear foot | Cabinets, countertops |
| Flooring | Linear foot | Transition strips, baseboard |
| Fencing contractors | Linear foot | Fence runs, per-foot pricing |
| Australia and NZ | Lineal metre | Timber and trim (metric) |
| Records management | Linear foot | Shelf space for archives |
None of these industries are using a different measurement. They are using the same 12 inches, just choosing a different adjective. When you write a quote, follow whatever term your trade and region use — the customer sees the word, not the precision.