Whenever you do any planning related to your house, i.e., buying a house, renovating a house or selling a house, the most important thing is to know the square feet of the house. You can measure the square feet to find out the size of your house.
In this article, we will learn what square footage is, why is it important, and how is the square footage of the house is calculated, and that too in an easy way, step by step.
What is Square Feet?
Square feet ( sq. ft ) is an area measurement unit. Consider a square whose each side is 1 foot long. The number of floor areas inside the house or the total floor area is measured in square feet.
For example:
- A 10 ft × 10 ft room = 100 sq. ft.
- A 20 ft × 15 ft living room = 300 sq. ft.
Why is Square Footage Important?
It is important to know the exact square feet of the house.
1. Buying or Selling a Home – Real estate prices are usually listed per square foot.
2. Renovations and Remodeling – Contractors calculate costs based on the area.
3. Home Loans and Insurance – Lenders and insurance companies often need accurate square footage.
4. Property Taxes – Your local government uses square footage to assess property value.
What is Included in Square Footage?
Whenever you calculate the square footage of your house, not all things need to be included in it.
✅ Square footage ( sq. ft ) included in :
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Hallways
- Closets
❌ Square footage not included in:
- Garages
- Basements ( livable and, unless unfinished)
- Attics (accessible and, unless unfinished)
- Outdoor spaces like patios or balconies
How to Calculate Square Feet of a House (Step-by-Step)
Here’s a simple method to calculate square feet:
Step 1: Gather Tools
You need this :
- A laser measure or a measuring tape
- Notepador graph paper
- Calculator
Step 2: Measure Each Room
- length and width: Measure each room in feet.
- Length × Width Multiply to get the square footage of that room.
👉 Example: measuring a bedroom by 12 ft × 15 ft = 180 sq. ft.
Step 3: Add All Room Measurements
Find the area of each room separately and then add them all up.
Bedroom 1: 180 sq. ft.
Bedroom 2: 150 sq. ft.
Living Room: 300 sq. ft.
Kitchen: 200 sq. ft.
Total = 830 sq. ft.
Step 4: For Irregular-Shaped Rooms
Divide the room space into small squares and rectangles, or circles
Cut out the areas of each part and add them together.
Let’s take an example, and l L-shaped room can be divided into two rectangles easily
Formula for Square Feet
The basic formula is:
Square Feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft)
For multiple rooms:
Total Square Feet = Sum of all individual room areas
Pro Tips for Accurate Measurement
- Do a wall-to-wall measurement, do not include trim or molding, so that it is easy
- Use laser distance measures for more accuracy
- Calculate the accuracy while selecting irregular rooms
- If there is any problem or confusion, hire a professional person
Online Square Foot Calculator
If manual calculation seems a bit tough, then you can use an online square footage calculator in a very easy way. Just enter the dimensions of the room in this calculator, and it will automatically tell you the total square footage. How much is the tool
Conclusion
Now you must have come to know how to calculate the square footage of a house. And that too in a very easy way. You just have to do nothing. Multiply the length and breadth of every room by measuring it, and add them all. Remember that only livable space footage is taken into account, not garages and unfinished basements. Always keep this in mind.
This way,how to calculate square feet of a house you can calculate your exact square footage for buying, selling, or renovating a house or for insurance, either by yourself or with the help of a tool.
