How to Measure Linear Feet for a Moving Truck
Long-distance carriers often price your move by linear feet of trailer space. Here is what that means, how to measure it, and a quick reference table so you can verify your quote.
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What is a linear foot in moving?
A linear foot is one foot of length along the floor of a moving trailer. The trailer is roughly 8 feet wide and 9 feet tall, so a single linear foot of trailer space is about 72 cubic feet — enough room for a small stack of boxes plus a piece of furniture against the wall. When a long-distance carrier ships several households in one trailer, they often charge per linear foot of the space your shipment occupies, rather than by weight.
How carriers calculate linear feet
- 1. The crew loads your largest items against the trailer wall, floor to ceiling, in a tight wall of furniture and stacked boxes.
- 2. Once loading is complete, the driver measures from the back wall of the trailer to the last item in your shipment.
- 3. That measurement — typically rounded to the nearest foot — is your final linear footage and the basis for your price.
- 4. A binding written estimate locks the per-foot rate so the price cannot move even if loading takes longer than expected.
Linear feet by home size
Use this table to sanity-check the linear-foot estimate on your quote. These are working averages — a heavily furnished home, large appliances, or garage contents push the number higher.
| Home size | Linear feet | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / small 1BR | 5 – 7 ft | Bed, dresser, sofa, small dining set, ~15-25 boxes |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 8 – 12 ft | Queen bed, sofa, TV stand, dining set, ~25-40 boxes |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 12 – 16 ft | Two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, ~40-60 boxes |
| 2 bedroom house | 14 – 18 ft | Add washer/dryer, patio set, light garage items |
| 3 bedroom house | 18 – 24 ft | Three bedrooms, dining, family room, garage basics |
| 4 bedroom house | 24 – 30 ft | Larger furniture, full garage, outdoor equipment |
| 5+ bedroom house | 30 – 40+ ft | Large estates often require a dedicated trailer |
How to measure linear feet yourself
You can run a rough check before the survey. Imagine an 8-foot-wide hallway in your home. Group every item you are shipping along one side — large furniture on the floor, boxes stacked on top to about 8 feet high, tightly packed with no gaps. Measure the length that wall of belongings runs, in feet. That is your linear footage. Round up — empty space in the trailer still costs you.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a linear foot in moving?
A linear foot is one foot of length along the floor of a moving trailer, measured wall-to-wall across the trailer's full width (typically 8 ft) and full height (typically 9 ft). One linear foot equals roughly 72 cubic feet of usable space. Long-distance carriers that ship multiple households in one trailer often price by linear feet instead of weight.
How do I measure linear feet for my move?
Group your furniture and boxes by how they would stack against a wall — large items on the floor, boxes stacked on top to roughly 8-9 feet high. Then measure the floor length your stack would occupy across the full 8-foot width of the trailer. That length, in feet, is your linear footage. A binding written estimate from a professional mover is the most accurate way to lock in this number.
How much does each linear foot cost on a long-distance move?
For interstate moves, linear-foot pricing typically runs $150 – $400 per linear foot depending on distance, season, and accessorial services (stairs, long carry, shuttle). A 3-bedroom home at 20 linear feet often falls in the $4,000 – $8,000 range before packing and valuation coverage.
Is linear-foot pricing better than weight-based pricing?
Neither is automatically better. Linear feet is easier to predict because the unit is a physical length you can see being loaded, and most carriers will not charge more if your stack stays inside the booked footage. Weight-based pricing can be cheaper for very dense, low-volume shipments. Either way, insist on a binding written estimate so your price is locked.
What happens if my shipment exceeds the booked linear feet?
If the driver measures more linear feet on load day than the estimate booked, you will be charged for the overage at the per-foot rate in your contract. The fastest way to avoid this is an in-home or video survey before booking so the linear footage is verified, then a binding estimate that ties the price to the agreed footage.
How do I verify the linear feet on my quote?
Compare the estimated linear feet to the table on this page for your home size, ask the mover for the per-foot rate, and confirm the estimate is binding. If a quote uses linear feet without giving you a per-foot rate or a binding written contract, that is a red flag — get a second quote.
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