What is the Difference Between Linear Foot and Square Foot?

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The main difference between linear foot and square foot lies in what they measure.

  • Linear Foot: This refers to the length or distance of a material or object in a single dimension. It is commonly used in reference to floor space and is often used to measure the distance of a line, such as the length of a wall or the size of a room. For example, when installing crown molding around the ceilings of a room, you would need to know the number of linear feet of molding required.
  • Square Foot: This measures the area of a space in a two-dimensional way. It is used to calculate the total size of an area and is often used in construction materials like hardwood flooring, where the prices might be quoted by the square foot. For example, if you have a room that is 12 linear feet by 8 linear feet, the square footage of that room would be 96 square feet.

In summary, linear foot measures length or distance in one dimension, while square foot measures the area of a space in two dimensions.

Comparative Table: Linear Foot vs Square Foot

The main difference between linear foot and square foot lies in the dimensions they measure. Here's a comparison table highlighting the differences:

Property Linear Foot Square Foot
Definition A linear foot measures the length of something in a straight line. A square foot measures the area of a space, which includes two dimensions (length and width).
Measurement Measured in feet (ft). Measured in square feet (ft.2).
Usage Used for measuring the length of objects or spaces, such as fences, walls, or hallways. Used for measuring the area of surfaces, like floors, walls, or ceilings, or for purchasing materials like lumber or flooring.
Conversion Cannot be directly converted to square feet, as they measure different dimensions. Can be converted to linear feet by multiplying the square footage by 12 and dividing by the width of the board or material.

In summary, linear feet measure the length of something in a straight line, while square feet measure the area of a space or surface. To convert square feet to linear feet, you need to know the width of the material or space, and you cannot directly convert linear feet to square feet, as they measure different dimensions.