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Convert deck square footage to linear feet of decking, and back.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Linear feet of decking | 417.4 ft |
| With 10% waste | 459.1 ft |
| Linear feet per sq ft | 2.087 |
| 16 ft boards needed | 29 boards |
| Board face width | 5.5" |
| Gap | 0.25" |
| Formula | linear ft = sq ft × 12 ÷ (width + gap) |
Order the waste-inclusive figure. Composite colors shift slightly between production runs, so a second small order rarely matches.
Lumberyards sell decking by the linear foot, but you measure your deck in square feet. This bidirectional converter handles both directions for any board width and gap, so your order matches your deck.
Multiply the square footage by 12, then divide by the board face width plus the gap in inches. For 5.5-inch boards with a 1/4-inch gap: 200 sq ft × 12 ÷ 5.75 = 417 linear feet.
About 417 linear feet using 5.5-inch boards with a 1/4-inch gap, or 626 linear feet using 3.5-inch boards. Add 10% waste before ordering.
Yes. Lumberyards use both terms interchangeably to mean the total running length of board, regardless of width.
Multiply length by width for a rectangle. For L-shaped decks, split the deck into rectangles, calculate each, and add them together. For a round pool deck, subtract the pool area from the outer circle area.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.