Linear Feet to Tons Calculator
Convert a measured run into short tons or long tons using cross-section shape, material density, moisture content, quantity, waste allowance, and imperial or metric inputs.
▦Material Run Presets
Load a common linear material scenario, then tune the shape, density, moisture, waste, and ton mode to match your measured run.
⚙Tonnage Inputs
Calculation Breakdown
📊Material and Ton Grid
📋Reference Tables
| Material preset | Reference density | Reference moisture | Best use in this calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal concrete | 145 lb/ft3 | 0% | Curbs, beams, pads, channels, and formed sections. |
| Crushed gravel | 100 lb/ft3 | 3% | Drain trenches, base strips, backfill runs, and bedding. |
| Damp sand | 110 lb/ft3 | 5% | Leveling beds, paver strips, forms, and sand-filled channels. |
| Screened topsoil | 78 lb/ft3 | 12% | Swales, long planting strips, berms, and shallow trench fill. |
| Mild steel | 490 lb/ft3 | 0% | Bars, flats, solid rods, and pipe-wall equivalent sections. |
| SPF framing lumber | 28 lb/ft3 | 12% | Studs, joists, posts, beams, and bundled linear stock. |
| Cross-section shape | Area formula | Secondary field use | Typical field measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular | Width x height | Ignored | Boards, beams, curbs, pads, strips, and square trenches. |
| Round solid | Pi x radius squared | Ignored | Round bars, posts, cores, auger holes, and cylinders. |
| Hollow round | Outer circle minus inner circle | Inner diameter | Pipe walls, tube stock, sleeves, and ring-shaped sections. |
| Triangular | 0.5 x base x height | Ignored | Wedges, V trenches, bevel strips, and triangular fillets. |
| Trapezoid | Average width x depth | Bottom width | Sloped trenches, swales, tapered curbs, and formed channels. |
| Half-round | 0.5 x pi x radius squared | Ignored | Half-pipe channels, troughs, gutters, and rounded forms. |
| Ton mode | Pounds per ton | Metric equivalent | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| US short ton | 2,000 lb | 907.185 kg | Common for US aggregate, concrete, asphalt, lumber, and shop weight estimates. |
| Imperial long ton | 2,240 lb | 1,016.047 kg | Used in some imperial, marine, and international bulk material contexts. |
| Metric tonne check | 2,204.62 lb | 1,000 kg | Use as a cross-check when supplier documents are in tonnes. |
| Per-foot planning | Ton weight / lb per ft | Same ratio | Helps estimate how many feet fit into one selected ton mode. |
| Example run | Section basis | Approx lb per linear ft | Approx short tons per 100 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete curb | 6 x 12 in rectangular | 72.5 lb/ft | 3.63 short tons |
| Gravel trench | 12 x 12 in rectangular | 100 lb/ft | 5.00 short tons |
| Mild steel flat | 2 x 0.5 in rectangular | 3.40 lb/ft | 0.17 short tons |
| Oak beam | 6 x 6 in rectangular | 11.0 lb/ft | 0.55 short tons |
| SPF 2x4 actual | 1.5 x 3.5 in rectangular | 1.02 lb/ft | 0.05 short tons |
💡Tonnage Tips
To determine the weight of a long straight run of material, it is necesary to convert the linear feet of that material into ton. Converting linear feet to tons is important in determining the number of deliveries that is necessary to supply the material, as well as the size of the delivery truck that you are to order for that supply of material. The conversion from linear feet to tons is an essential calculation to make because a variety of factors, such as the shape of the material, the density of the material, and the moisture content of that material, determines the weight of the material.
In order to calculate the weight of a long straight run of material, it is first necesary to determine the length of that material. You often find the length of the material is the easiest to measure for material installations, such as measuring the length of a curb, a trench, a beam, or a pipe. The length of the material is not, however, the only factor that determines the weight of that material.
How to Convert Linear Feet to Tons
For instance, a 12-inch by 12-inch slab of concrete will weigh more significant than a 2-inch by 2-inch bar of steel of the same length. Thus, in addition to length, you must enter the area of the cross section of the material into the calculation, as must the density of that material. A calculator can make this calculation for the individual, as it can save that individual from having to first calculate the area of the cross section of the material in square inches, and then converting that value to cubic feet of material, and finally, converting that amount to the weight of that material in pounds.
The weight of a material is also influenced by the shape of that material. Most installations will not utilize perfect rectangle in the cross section of those materials. Instead, you may be required to use shapes like trapezoids, half-rounds, and hollow tubes in those installations.
Each of these different shapes will displace a different amount of material, and, therefore, will have a different weight to that amount of material. Finally, the moisture content of the material will again influence the weight of the material. For instance, topsoil that has been wet with rainfall will weigh more then dry topsoil, as will freshly poured concrete.
Thus, the individual must also enter the moisture percentage of the material into the calculation, which will allow the calculator to adjust the density of that material prior to determine how much of that material will be wasted during installation. A waste allowance is a percentage of extra material that you add to your order to account for material that will get trimmed, spilled, compacted, or otherwise damaged in the process of forming your final product. If you include too little waste allowance in your calculations, you wont have enough of your material.
If you include too much waste allowance, you will end up purchasing too much material for your project. The waste allowance is applied after the moisture allowance so that the weight of the water and the waste material doesnt compound your tonnage calculation incorrectly. This sequence of calculations is essential to obtaining the correct tonnage value for your material.
When using the density presets, you will typically use the densities of the materials that you work with the most. For specific projects with specific materials with specific densities, you can use the custom density feature to enter a more accurate weight of that material. Once you have entered your custom density for the material, the tool will calculate the tonnage of the material after waste is applied to the order.
The result will show you the net tonnage of the material before waste and the order tonnage after waste is removed from the order. Both of these figures are important to understand and review to determine the cost of the waste material for your order. The weight of the material that you order will be in short ton or long tons.
Most domestic suppliers of lumber and aggregate use short tons. International suppliers and marine applications of the materials use long tons. You can toggle the unit of measurement in the tonnage calculator to change all of the values of the order without having to re-enter any of the information.
Finally, you need to make sure that the total weight of the material that you calculate for your order will fit the available equipment. The weight value may seem appropriate for the amount of material that you need and the strength of your equipment, but the equipment may not be able to handle that much weight. By checking the weight of the material against the specifications of your equipment, you can find any potential issues prior to the material arriving at your location.
The linear-feet-per-ton value is helpful in determining the length of the material that will be delivered to your job site. As long as you use accurate dimensions, moisture content, and waste percentage values, the final tonnage will be accurate for your order.
