How To Calculate Square Feet

Are you trying to figure out how to calculate square feet? Knowing how to work with square footage measurements can be helpful in a variety of situations, such as when you’re buying or selling real estate, deciding how much product to buy for a remodel, or just sizing up a room. Fortunately, calculating square feet isn’t difficult once you understand the basic formula.

Step 1: Measure the Length and Width

The first step in calculating square feet is to measure the length and width of the space in question. When measuring, ensure that you are using a standard unit of measure, such as feet or meters, to ensure accuracy in your calculations.

Step 2: Multiply Length and Width

Once you have measured the length and width of the space, the next step is to multiply the two numbers together. This equation looks like this: length x width = square feet. So, for example, if a room measures 12 feet in length and 10 feet in width, your equation would be as follows:

12 ft x 10 ft = 120 square feet

Step 3: Add Measurements of Irregularly-shaped Rooms

In some cases, the area that you are measuring is not a perfect square or rectangle. A room that is L-shaped, for example, will require two separate calculations to measure itstotal square footage. In that case, you simply add together the two measurements—in this example, the two separate rectangular areas—to arrive at the total square feet.

Step 4: Take Area Through Angles Into Account

If you are measuring rooms with lots of angles and corners, it’s best to break the area into several smaller rectangles and calculate their square footage. You can then add together their measurements to get the overall square footage.

Knowing how to calculate square feet can be incredibly useful for those who are buying or selling houses and for those who are remodeling. Armed with these helpful tips, you too can crunch the numbers and figure out the square footage of any space.