Both are used, which is the problem. Panels are often sold by the linear foot of panel, roofs are quoted by the square foot of area, and a wide panel covers more area per linear foot than a narrow one. The two numbers are not interchangeable.
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Take a 16 inch wide panel, which covers 1.33 square feet for every linear foot of its length.
| Panel width | Coverage per linear foot |
|---|---|
| 12 inch | 1.00 sq ft |
| 16 inch | 1.33 sq ft |
| 18 inch | 1.50 sq ft |
So a panel at 4 dollars per linear foot in a 16 inch width is 3 dollars per square foot of coverage, not 4. the complete metal roofing guide covers installed pricing.
One question settles it: is that per linear foot of panel, per square foot of roof area, or per roofing square of 100 square feet?
Suppliers usually mean linear foot of panel. Installers usually mean square foot of roof or per square. Getting a quote in the wrong unit and comparing it to another in the right one is one of the easier ways to misjudge a price by a wide margin. what sits inside a roofing quote covers the system itself.
Because they sell panel, and panel is manufactured and cut to length. Coverage depends on the width you choose.
Multiply by the panel's coverage width in feet. A 16 inch panel covers 1.33 feet, so 100 linear feet covers 133 square feet.
Square feet of roof area, or per square. Convert everything to one unit before putting quotes side by side.
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