Board Feet to Linear Feet Converter
Convert board feet to linear feet (or reverse) by entering the board width. Supports both directions.
Formula
Linear Feet = (Board Feet × 12) ÷ Width (in inches)
Width must be in inches. Thickness only matters for LF→BF conversion (when calculating the BF equivalent of measured lumber).
Board Feet → Linear Feet Conversion Table
Shows linear feet per board feet at various widths (1" thick; for other thicknesses, LF = BF × 12 ÷ width).
| Board Feet | 2" wide | 3" wide | 4" wide | 5" wide | 6" wide | 7" wide | 8" wide | 10" wide | 12" wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 BF | 60 LF | 40 LF | 30 LF | 24 LF | 20 LF | 17.14 LF | 15 LF | 12 LF | 10 LF |
| 25 BF | 150 LF | 100 LF | 75 LF | 60 LF | 50 LF | 42.86 LF | 37.50 LF | 30 LF | 25 LF |
| 50 BF | 300 LF | 200 LF | 150 LF | 120 LF | 100 LF | 85.71 LF | 75 LF | 60 LF | 50 LF |
| 100 BF | 600 LF | 400 LF | 300 LF | 240 LF | 200 LF | 171.43 LF | 150 LF | 120 LF | 100 LF |
| 200 BF | 1200 LF | 800 LF | 600 LF | 480 LF | 400 LF | 342.86 LF | 300 LF | 240 LF | 200 LF |
| 500 BF | 3000 LF | 2000 LF | 1500 LF | 1200 LF | 1000 LF | 857.14 LF | 750 LF | 600 LF | 500 LF |
| 1000 BF | 6000 LF | 4000 LF | 3000 LF | 2400 LF | 2000 LF | 1714.29 LF | 1500 LF | 1200 LF | 1000 LF |
How to Convert Board Feet to Linear Feet
Board feet measure volume; linear feet (also written lineal feet in the trades) measure length. To convert, you need the board's width:
Linear Feet = (Board Feet × 12) ÷ Width (in inches)Example: 50 board feet of 6"-wide lumber = (50 × 12) ÷ 6 = 100 linear feet.
To go the other direction — from linear feet to board feet — you also need thickness:
Board Feet = (Linear Feet × Thickness × Width) ÷ 12When You Need This Conversion
The BF ↔ LF conversion appears in several common situations:
- Fence boards — suppliers sell by the piece or lineal foot; you want to know how many board feet you're ordering, or vice versa.
- Deck boards — your deck plan shows linear feet of board runs; lumber is priced per board foot.
- Trim and molding — molding is sold by the linear foot, but a mill quote may be in board feet.
- Hardwood strips — narrow hardwood strips for tabletops or flooring are often priced per lineal foot but tallied in BF at the yard.
- Framing takeoffs — converting a BF total back to linear feet tells you how many full-length boards to buy.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Fence boards: You have 200 BF of 6"-wide dog-eared fence boards (1" thick). How many linear feet of fence will they cover?
(200 × 12) ÷ 6 = 400 LF
Example 2 — Deck boards: Your deck needs 320 LF of 5/4×6 decking (1.25" thick, 6" wide). How many BF?
(320 × 1.25 × 6) ÷ 12 = 200 BF
Example 3 — Trim: You need 180 LF of 3/4" × 4" casing. How many BF?
(180 × 0.75 × 4) ÷ 12 = 45 BF
Board Feet vs Linear Feet: Key Difference
A 10-foot 1×4 and a 10-foot 2×6 are both 10 linear feet. But they contain very different amounts of wood: the 1×4 is 3.33 BF, the 2×6 is 10 BF. Linear feet measures only length — it ignores width and thickness entirely. Board feet captures all three dimensions.
This is why lumber quantities for projects are typically specified in board feet (or pieces × dimensions), not linear feet. Using only linear feet to order lumber for a multi-size project will give you the wrong quantities.
← Board Foot Calculator · BF to Square Feet → · Lumber Estimator
Frequently Asked Questions
How many linear feet are in 100 board feet of 6-inch wide lumber?
200 linear feet. The formula is LF = (BF × 12) ÷ width in inches. So (100 × 12) ÷ 6 = 200 LF.
What is the difference between board feet and linear feet?
Linear feet measures only length. Board feet measures volume — length times width times thickness, divided by 12. A 10-foot 1×4 and a 10-foot 2×6 are both 10 linear feet, but the 2×6 contains much more wood.
How do I convert linear feet to board feet?
Board Feet = (Linear Feet × Thickness × Width) ÷ 12, where thickness and width are in inches. You need all three dimensions — width and thickness in inches, and length in feet.
How many board feet are in 16 linear feet of 2×6?
Using nominal dimensions: (16 × 2 × 6) ÷ 12 = 16 board feet. Using actual dimensions (1.5" × 5.5"): (16 × 1.5 × 5.5) ÷ 12 = 11 board feet.
What is the difference between linear feet and lineal feet?
Nothing — they are the same unit. "Lineal feet" is the older trade spelling common in fencing, decking, and millwork; "linear feet" is the modern standard spelling. Both mean a straight-line measurement of length, and the board feet conversion formula is identical for both.