Deck Calculator: Master the Linear Foot
When you walk into a lumberyard or browse a home improvement website, you'll notice something confusing. Some Decking is sold by the board (e.g., $15 for a 12-foot board), but premium materials like cedar, redwood, and composite are often priced by the Linear Foot (LF). Our **Deck Calculator** translates your deck's square footage into the total linear length of material required.
Square Footage vs. Linear Footage
Square Footage (Area): This defines the size of the "room" you are building outdoors. A 10x20 deck is 200 square feet.
Linear Footage (Length): This defines the total length of boards needed to cover that area. If you laid every single deck board end-to-end in a straight line, how long would that line be? That is linear footage.
Example: To cover 1 square foot with a 6-inch wide board (0.5 feet), you need 2 linear feet of lumber.
Why This Calculation Matters
1. Budgeting:
High-end composites might cost $3.50 per linear foot. If you know you need 1,000 linear feet, your
math is simple: $3,500. Without this number, comparing prices between brands is frustrating.
2. Ordering:
You can buy boards in various lengths (8', 12', 16', 20'). If you know your total linear footage is
500, you can mix and match lengths to hit that number based on what's in stock or what fits in your
truck.
Input: Board Width
The most important variable is the width of the board.
- Standard 5/4 Decking: Actually 5.5 inches wide.
- 2x6 Lumber: Actually 5.5 inches wide.
- 2x4 Lumber: Actually 3.5 inches wide.
- Wide Plank Composite: Manufacturers vary, but 5.5" or 7.25" are common.
Note: Don't forget the gap! If you have a 5.5" board and a 0.25" gap, use 5.75" as your effective width for coverage calculations.
The Waste Factor
This calculator automatically adds a 10% waste buffer. This accounts for:
- Trimming of rough ends.
- Cutting around railing posts.
- Mistakes (measuring once, cutting twice).
Conclusion
Don't get stuck doing long division in the lumber aisle. Use the **Deck Calculator** to instantly know your linear footage requirements and order with confidence.