What Is a Linear Foot and Why Is It Important When Moving?

So what is a linear foot, and why is it important when moving? Well, if you plan to relocate across the country using a moving freight trailer to ship your things, you’ll be using this terminology quite a lot.

While there are a number of DIY ways to move (from renting a moving truck to filling up a moving container), relocating using a freight trailer is often one of the most overlooked methods. These freight trailer companies tend to handle long distance relocations and, as HireAHelper points out, specialize in carrying large amounts of goods across state lines.

If you decide to move using this method, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with linear feet. The reason being is that many freight moving companies will price your move based on the amount of space used in their freight trailer – and that space is measured in linear feet. Keep reading to learn more about linear feet, and why it’s so important when moving with a trailer.

What is a linear foot?

A linear foot is exactly what it sounds like: a measurement that is 12 inches (one foot) long and extends in a straight (or linear) line.

Why is it important?

Linear footage is important because it determines the price of your move. Pricing for a freight moving company is often based on the number of linear feet your household goods take up in the trailer. This differs from how full service movers price their long distance moves, using the weight of your belongings as the main factor.

How many linear feet will my goods take up in the trailer?

If you’re trying to figure out how much space your belongings will take up, be sure to ask the freight company for a comparison guide. Many freight moving companies provide customers with a handy measuring guide that converts the size of a residence (or number of rooms) into an estimated number of linear feet needed. For instance, Estes SureMove states that a one bedroom apartment is equivalent to 6 linear feet of trailer space. A one bedroom house is equivalent to 8 linear feet, etc. This estimate should give the customer a pretty good idea of how much space they will need in the moving trailer.

What’s the advantage of paying by the linear foot?

The advantage of paying by the linear foot is that with many freight companies, you only pay for the space you use in the trailer. Whereas when you rent a moving truck or moving container, you end up paying for the entire truck and container – regardless of whether or not you ended up using all the space inside.

One example of a freight trailer company that does this is ABF’s U-Pack service . Customers who move using a U-Pack freight trailer will only pay for the space (or amount of linear footage) they need in the trailer. They don’t pay for the entire trailer – unless, of course, they end up filling it.

What are a few freight moving trailer companies to consider?

While most freight moving trailer companies tend to focus on commercial or business moves, many also participate in long distance, residential moves. If looking for a freight trailer company to handle your upcoming move, here are a few companies to consider.

• ABF Moving and U-Pack – When it comes to shipping household belongings, U-Pack’s freight trailers lead the way in popularity. According to the company’s website, U-Pack offers 28 ft. moving trailers with a loading capacity of 2,000 cubic feet. The inside of the trailer is capable of holding the furnishings of small four-bedroom home. U-Pack notes that while the entire trailer is ideal for large moves, customers with smaller moves will only be charged for the space used – down to a minimum of five linear feet. How it works: The company will deliver the trailer to the customer’s house for loading. After three days of loading, U-Pack will then pick it up and move it to your new location. According to HireAHelper , the average cost of a long distance move with a U-Pack moving trailer is $3,015.
• Estes SureMove – According to the company website, Estes SureMove is a company with over 80 years of experience in the trucking industry. The company boasts 35,000 pieces of equipment and over 13,000 dedicated transportation professionals. How it works: Once the customer schedules their move, the freight trailer company will drop off a 28 ft. trailer at their doorstep, as well as a security partition and a ramp. Customers are given three days to load. After that, Estes will pick up the trailer and deliver it to your destination. Customers can use as much or as little space as needed inside the trailer. They will only be charged for the number of linear feet used inside the trailer. According to HireAHelper, the average cost of a long distance move using an Estes SureMove trailer is $2,178.
• Old Dominion Household Services – Old Dominion’s household shipping service is another popular option for those looking to move with a freight trailer. And with 227 shipping service centers throughout the U.S., you won’t have any trouble finding an Old Dominion location near your old or new home. How it works: Old Dominion will drop off the freight trailer and loading ramp at the customer’s home. Customers are given three days to load the trailer. Once they call Old Dominion to come pick it up, the freight service will check the space used and deliver it to the new home. According to the company’s website, Old Dominion specializes in cross-country moves, however, they are available for moves of any distance. The company does note, though, that their services are ideal for those moving at least 300 miles away. While HireAHelper doesn’t have an average price estimate available for Old Dominion, you can find your own personal moving estimate here .

Ready to move?

Of course, renting space in a freight trailer isn’t the only way to ensure a successful and cost-effective long distance move. To find information and discounts on other moving options (i.e. truck rentals, moving containers, moving companies and moving day labor), check out Moving.com for everything you need.