What is a linear metre? (And why your quote uses it)

Linear metres measure length along a line — fences, benchtops, gutters, skirting. Here's how to measure yours and sanity-check a quote.

A metal tape measure extended on a white surface

If a quote has ever priced your job "per linear metre" and you nodded along without being completely sure what that meant — you're in the majority, and the answer is simpler than the name suggests.

A linear metre is just a metre measured in a straight line along something. No width, no area, no volume — length, full stop.

Linear metre vs square metre

The two get confused constantly, and the difference matters to your wallet. A linear metre measures along a line: the run of a fence, the length of a benchtop, the metres of gutter along your roofline. A square metre measures area — length times width — and suits surfaces like floors, walls and lawns.

The rule of thumb: if the thing is long and its width is basically standard (a fence panel's height, a benchtop's depth, a skirting board's profile), trades price it per linear metre. If the thing is a surface that varies in both directions, it's priced per square metre.

Jobs typically priced per linear metre

You'll see linear-metre pricing on quotes for:

Fencing — the total run of the fence line
Gutters and downpipes
Kitchen benchtops and cabinetry runs
Skirting boards, architraves and cornices
Hedge trimming — the run of the hedge
Retaining walls (often per linear metre at a given height)

How to measure it yourself

Run a tape measure (or a phone measuring app for rough numbers) along the thing end to end, following corners rather than cutting across them — an L-shaped bench is the sum of both arms. Round up slightly; materials get bought in whole lengths, and offcuts are normal, not a rip-off.

Measuring before you post a job means tradies can quote more accurately from the description alone — "about 22 metres of paling fence" is a quotable brief; "the back fence" is a site visit.

Sanity-checking a linear-metre quote

Multiply the rate by your measured length and check the total matches — then check what the rate includes. For a fence, does the per-metre price include posts, rails, and disposal of the old fence? A low rate with thin inclusions routinely costs more than an honest all-in one.