How to Calculate Your Home's Linear Footage

This page is a general guide to calculating your home's linear footage. Using the methods or tips suggested, you can accurately measure and determine how much product to use in your residential or commercial property. Follow this guide and use the recommended methods or products and we guarantee 100% accuracy in measuring your homes linear footage.

When spraying or applying an pesticide product it is important to know the measurements of your home in linear feet. A linear footage is a measurement of a length or distance between two ends of an object or area, while square footage is a measurement that provides the total area. While linear footage is not used as much as square footagem, important to know during mold treatment on boards or drench treatments for termites.

If you want to learn how to measure your home's linear footage for preventative pest control treatments, follow our DIY measurement guide which offers expert-recommended tips and steps to use for a beginning homeowner or gardener. For more information or detailed advice on how to get your home's linear footage, get in touch with us via email, phone, or live chat.

Tools Needed

To calculate your homes linear footage we recommend using the following tools:

• Tape measurer or measuring wheel.
• Pen or Pencil to write measurements.
• Paper.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Mask, safety glasses, or face shield.
• Closed-toe shoes with socks.
• Long-sleeve shirt.
• Long-sleeve pants.
• Coveralls or Tyvek Suit.
• Chemical Resistant Gloves.

How to Measure Linear Footage

Once you have gathered the appropriate tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) you can measure the walls outside of your homes to determine its linear footage.

Step 1: Where to Measure

Take your tape measurer or measuring wheel and place at the corner of your home or treatment area.

Remember when using a tape measurer you may need a second person to hold the end of the tape at the end of the wall. If you cannot find anyone to hold the other end of the tape then we suggest using a digital laser tape measurer. A digital laser tape measurer just needs to be set alongside the surface of the wall and have its laser pointed in a straight line for accurate measurements.

If you're unable to use a digital laser measurer, then you can always do it the old fashioned way: use something heavy like a brick to hold down the end of the measuring tape.

A measuring wheel is a wheel attached to a long handle with a grip and calculates the size of the area as the wheel rotates. If you decide to use a measuring wheel then remember to set your counter to zero before you walk along the perimeter of your home or treatment area.

Step 2: Record Length of Area

With your selected tape measurer or measuring wheel measure in inches while you walk in a straight line from one end of the wall or treatment area to the other. When making your measurements make sure to write them down as you walk along the perimeter of your home or treatment area.

For areas to be treated such as doors or windows take your selected tool and measure in a straight horizontal line from one end to the other. If you do not want to apply your tool to sensitive areas such as these then use a rope or cord.

Take your rope or cord and line it against the window or door in a straight horizontal line. Fold or cut off the areas that were not included in the measurements and measure with your selected tool to calculate the length. This method is helpful because your not directly touching the area with your tool.

Step 3: Add Measurements Together

Once you have walked the entire perimeter of your home or treatment area add all the measurements together into one total.

To convert your inch measurements into feet you will need to add up all measurements and divide them by 12. This total will give you linear feet.

Key Takeaways

What Tools Do I need to Measure for Linear Feet?

• You will need to use a tape measurer or measuring wheel. The only difference between both tools is a tape measurer will require some assistance when measuring whereas a measuring wheel will not.

How to Measure Your Home's Linear Feet

• You will begin by measuring one end of your wall or treatment area in inches and walking in a straight horizontal line to the other end. You will then covert your measurements taken in inches by adding all measurements together and dividing them by 12. The sum will give you the linear feet of your area.