When are linear feet measurements needed? 

If you haven’t done home improvement involving baseboards or crown molding, you might not be familiar with the term linear feet. Knowing how to measure linear feet is handy for DIY projects, but it’s also important when you’re planning to relocate with U-Pack®. Keep reading to learn more about calculating linear footage for your move. 

What is a linear foot?  

A linear foot is a 12-inch (one-foot) measurement of length. That’s it! 

How do I calculate it?

To measure linear footage, all you need is a tape measure. Just measure the length in inches and then divide the total number of inches by 12 to convert to feet. The resulting number is the linear footage. For this measurement, width and height don’t matter! 

For example, 84 inches in length is 7 linear feet (84/12 = 7). If your tape measure lists feet, there’s no math. One foot is one linear foot — it’s simple! 

How does U-Pack use the measurement?

Understanding how to measure linear footage is important if you’re using a U-Pack moving trailer because the linear feet you use determines the rate. When moving with U-Pack, you only pay for the space used (down to a 5-foot minimum)!  

We’ll provide a quote for a set amount of linear feet based on your home size. Then, you can adjust the footage on your quote to see the price for more or less space. 

For example,  say you get a quote for 23 feet of space in the trailer but only use 17 feet. If your per-foot-adjustment rate is $75 (this will vary for every move), you can subtract $450 from the quoted price ($75/foot x 6 feet less space).     

Watch this video for a quick overview: 

How much linear footage do I need in the trailer?  

The space you’ll need depends on how much stuff you’re moving. Use this chart to get an idea of what to expect, keeping in mind that heavily furnished homes may need more space:  

Note: U-Pack moving quotes include a linear footage estimate based on the home size you enter.