About Square Footage Calculation
A square foot is a unit of area commonly used in real estate, construction, and interior design to measure floor space, wall area, or property size. One square foot equals the area of a square with sides 1 foot long — that's 144 square inches or about 0.0929 square meters.
Formula
Square Feet = Length (in feet) × Width (in feet)
Points to Consider
- Measurement Units: Keep all dimensions in the same unit before converting to square feet.
- Conversion Factors: 1 square foot = 144 square inches; 1 square yard = 9 square feet.
- Irregular Shapes: Divide complex areas into smaller rectangles or triangles for accurate calculation.
- Non-Rectangular Areas: For circles, use π × radius²; for triangles, use (base × height) ÷ 2.
- Waste Factor: Add 5-10% extra material for cutting waste in flooring, tiling, or painting projects.
- Room Features: Subtract areas occupied by permanent fixtures, columns, or built-in furniture.
- Multiple Levels: Calculate each floor separately and sum the totals for multi-story buildings.
- Accuracy: Measure at multiple points for irregular walls and account for variations.
Example
A room measuring 15 ft × 12 ft: 15 × 12 = 180 square feet.
Common Applications
- Flooring: Determining how much carpet, tile, or hardwood to purchase
- Painting: Calculating wall surface area for paint estimation
- Real Estate: Measuring property size for listings and valuations
- Construction: Planning material requirements for projects
- Landscaping: Measuring lawn areas for sod or seeding