How to Calculate Square Feet
You probably know how to calculate the square footage of a simple room without any funny shapes. Just break out your measuring tape—or a laser meas...
How to Calculate The Square Footage of An Entire Home
While measuring a single room is no big deal, people get kind of intimidated when it comes to calculating the square footage of an entire home. Whi...
Take The Square Foot Calculation With A Grain of Salt
Now that you know how to calculate the square footage of a home, it's time to bust your bubble with a big caveat: A square footage calculation is s...
How to calculate square footage of a house?
All you’ll need to get started is a 100 sq ft tape measure, some graph paper, and a pencil.
How many feet of clearance is required for finished attic?
Finished attic square footage is included if an area has at least seven minimum feet of clearance.
What is the ANSI method of measuring?
The ANSI method specifies measuring from the exterior of the house, but the wall width is not usually subtracted to account for actual living space.
Is square footage important to your home?
Finally, remember that while square footage is important to your home value, don’t focus on it at the expense of style or your emotional response to it. Do you like the design and floorplan? How about the location? Are there rooms you absolutely love? Numbers are important, but they are no substitute for the intangibles that make a house feel like a home.
Does square footage matter when selling a house?
If you love a home, does it matter if the 2,000 square foot charmer turns out to be officially 1,600 sq ft in length? Since square footage is used to determine a home’s market value, it can matter a lot. When it comes time for you to sell, 400 fewer feet in measurement can impact the price you’ll get, particularly in a buyer’s market. Which is why we created this guide on how to calculate square footage of a house.
Does basement count as square footage?
Below grade spaces (basements, dens, etc.) do not usually count toward a home’s square footage. Even a finished basement can’t be counted toward a home’s Gross Living Area (GLA) but it can be noted separately in the listings total area.
Is square footage a standard?
Why the conflicting information? Well, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines on how to calculate a home’s square footage are considered the standard, but there are no official laws that govern this process. In addition, some Multiple Listing Services (MLS) report all finished and unfinished square footage of a house as a single number, adding to the confusion. Since the rules aren’t standard, some listing agents just post their best guess on a home’s square footage. As a result, buyers and their agents often have to investigate.
How to measure area of a rectangle?
If you are measuring a square or rectangle area, multiply length times width; Length x Width = Area.
What is square meters?
Square meters is also a common measure of area. Assume you have a rectangular area such as a room and, for example, you want to calculate the square footage area for flooring or carpet.
How to convert inches to feet?
If you measured in another unit of measure, do the following to convert to feet. - inches: divide by 12 and that is your measurement in feet. - yards: multiply by 3 and that is your measurement in feet. - centimeters: multiply by 0.03281 to convert to feet. - meters: multiply by 3.281 to convert to feet.
How to calculate square footage of a house?
To calculate the square feet of a house, you will need to determine each room’s area and add it together. Gather a few tools before getting started: a tape measure, notepad, and calculator. Then, measure the length and width of each room. Multiplying the length and width will give you the area of that room, which you can write down before your final calculations. Then, tackle hallways and other living spaces in more measurable rectangles. When you are done, add the area of each livable room.
What Is Included In The Square Footage?
In measuring the square footage of a house, it is crucial to know what can and can’t be included in the calculations. Not every foot of your home enclosed by walls will count towards total square footage. Instead, you are trying to determine the gross living area — or the livable parts of your home. Keep reading to learn more about the specifications for measuring square footage:
What is the importance of knowing square footage?
Those that know how to find the square footage of a house carry an inherent advantage in every deal they work on. Of particular importance, however, is accuracy. Those who can accurately learn how to calculate square footage of a house stand a better chance of realizing success. At the very least, they will know exactly what they are getting into (or out of).
How much does it cost to get an appraiser to measure square footage?
Depending on the property’s size, the cost of an appraiser to measure the square footage can range from $100 to several hundred dollars.
How to solve structural issues?
A good way to overcome any structural issues is to break each room into squares. Look for where walls line up and divide things in a way that makes square footage easier to calculate. You can then add up your smaller numbers to get a more accurate total.
What is the average square footage of a house in 2017?
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average square footage in 2017 was 2,426 square feet. In contrast, the average square footage was 1,660 in 1973. The number has steadily increased over the decades, reflecting Americans’ desire for more rooms and larger homes.
Why is there confusion about the square footage of a home?
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the square footage of a home, likely because of misinformation and a lack of well-known guidelines. That being said, if something seems unclear, more often than not, someone has probably wondered the same thing. Below are some commonly asked questions about how to measure the square footage of a house.
How to find square footage of a room?
You probably know how to calculate the square footage of a simple room without any funny shapes. Just break out your measuring tape—or a laser measure —to get its length and width. Multiply the width by the length and voila! You have the square footage. Say a room is 20 feet wide by 13 feet long, then 20 x 13 = 260 square feet.
Can floor plans be complicated?
Even complicated floor plans are just a series of rectang les you can add up.
Is square footage subjective?
Plus, a home’s square footage can be surprisingly subjective. Since most people don’t have a square foot calculator in their back pocket, here’s what you need to know to ace any square footage calculations that crop up in your future.
How to measure square footage of a house?
However, most properties have more complex floor plans, so it’s helpful to follow these simple steps to measure square footage. Draw out a rough sketch of your house, labeling all of the rooms you need to measure. Include hallways and other similar non-room spaces as their own “room” rectangles.
How to find square footage of a one story house?
For example, if your one-story house is 60 feet by 40 feet long , then your property is 2,400 square feet (60 x 40 = 2,400).
Why are basements excluded from square footage?
Basements are typically excluded because they are built below grade, meaning below ground level. If your state does allow basements to be included in the total square footage of a home, though, you’ll likely need an ingress and egress, or a safe way to enter and exit the basement to the outside.
What is the importance of size when determining asking price?
If you’re preparing to list your home, determining the property’s exact size is an important factor when deciding on an asking price. “For a home appraisal, we’re going to compare it to comparables or ‘comps,’” says Day. He will look for homes similar in size in the immediate area. When evaluating a home for sale, he also adjusts the value up or down for factors like building materials and condition.
How much does it cost to appraise a house?
Depending on the size of the property, the fee might be as little as $100 up to several hundred dollars. While two different professional appraisers could evaluate the same home and come up with slightly different square footage figures, they aim for scientific accuracy.
Do you need to know your square footage to build a house?
For instance, if you decide to finish a previously unused part of your house — say a basement or “bonus” attic space — you may need to provide the square footage to obtain a building permit.
Can square footage be a point in your favor to getting property taxes reduced?
Likewise, if your county or municipality assesses higher taxes than what you think you should owe, confirming the square footage can be a point in your favor to getting the property taxes reduced.
How to calculate square footage when selling a house?
If you're selling a property yourself, you can measure the floor space of an entire home in the same way. Take the measurements of each room in turn, calculate the square footage of each, and then add all the values together to give the total square footage.
How to find square footage of a room?
To calculate the square footage of a rectangular area or room, multiply the length and width together: Square footage = length (in feet) x width (in feet)
How to calculate cost of materials?
If you need to calculate the cost of materials for your project, simply multiply your total square feet figure by the price per square foot of the materials you're going to be using.
How to find square feet of a rectangular area?
To calculate the square feet of a rectangular area, you first need to measure two dimensions: the length and the width (note that we discuss irregular shaped areas further down). First, measure the longest side to find the length. Take a tape measure and fix one end of it to one end of the longest side. Note the measurement.
How to measure a room?
1 How to measure your room/space 1 First, measure the longest side to find the length. Take a tape measure and fix one end of it to one end of the longest side. Note the measurement. 2 Next, measure the width - the shortest side of the area to be calculated. Repeat the process above and note down that measurement.
Is area expressed in square metres?
Note that the same formula applies if you measure in metric. In this case, the area will be expressed in square metres.
Is square footage rectangular or triangular?
It may be that the area you're measuring isn't square or rectangular, but triangular or circular. If this is the case our square footage calculator page has details of the measurements you will need to take, in addition to providing a tool to help you calculate your area.
How many feet of attic space is included in square footage?
As we mentioned above in terms of finished attics, rooms with a sloped ceiling may or may not be included in the square footage depending on a few factors. Basically, at least half of the room needs to clear seven feet in order for it to be included. At that point, however, only the area of the room that has a clearance above five feet is included in the square footage. Any space less than five feet is excluded.
How many square feet are there in a one story home?
They measure the exterior of the home. If the exterior measures 30 feet by 40 feet and is one story, the home contains 1200 square feet. This includes all closets, hallways, stairwells, and even wall space since its starting from the exterior.
How much space does an attic need?
To include an attic in a home's square footage, it needs to be finished and include at least seven feet of clearance space. If the finished attic has a sloped ceiling, at least half of the ceiling must clear seven feet. But only the space that has a clearance of at least five feet can be included in the room’s square footage.
How to find the radius of a room?
The first thing you need to do is find the radius of the room. To do that, simply measure from the center of the room to the wall. If you can’t find the center, measure the diameter of the room (i.e., the furthest distance between the walls) and divide it by two. In our above example, the radius is five meters.
How to find the area of a triangle?
Fortunately, finding the area of a triangle is very easy. Multiply the length of one side by the height of the triangle and then divide the answer by two. That might sound tricky, but it’s actually really simple. The following example will show why. The first step is to measure one side of the triangle.
Is an attic a square foot?
An attic is not included in total square footage unless it is a finished attic and has a clearance of at least seven feet. Buyers will commonly find attics advertised in the home listing even when the space is not considered livable.
Can you include a covered porch in square footage?
Enclosed porch with heating and cooling system (if applicable) If you have a covered and enclosed porch, you may be able to include it in the square footage count. The porch must be hooked up to the same heating and cooling system as the rest of the home. A good example of a covered, enclosed porch is a sunroom.
How much does tile cost?
Due to the numerous varieties of tile, there is an incredibly large price range, from 60 cents per square foot, to hundreds of dollars, or even $100,000 per square foot. The many options of tile allow a person to choose a cost and style that best fits their needs. Tile is also easy to maintain, clean, and is suitable for all locations. However, without heating, tile can be cold in the winter. It also does not dampen sound, can be slippery when wet, can break if heavy objects are dropped on them, and cannot easily be repaired. Tile installation is also difficult, and installation costs can be more expensive than the cost of the materials.
When building a home, using building plans and visiting different homes as a reference can help a person to answer?
When building a home, using building plans and visiting different homes as a reference can help a person to gain a better understanding of what square footages work for their preferences.
Do houses of the same size vary in building cost?
As previously mentioned, houses of the same size do vary significantly in building cost. Thus, having a reference can help a prospective owner decide whether or not to include an elegant master bath, marble tiles, curved staircases, or any other more extravagant features.
How to find the square footage of a house?
Measure the exterior length and the exterior width of your home. When your home is a basic square or rectangle, simply multiply these two measurements to get the total square footage of your home. Measure the interior length and width of any unheated space, such as the garage. Subtract this measurement from the total exterior square footage ...
How to calculate living area of a condo?
Calculate the total living area of condominiums or townhomes from the interior of the home. Measure the length and width of each room. Add 5 inches to each measurement to accommodate the interior, exterior and shared walls. Multiply each measurement to obtain the square footage of each interior room. Add all the square footage totals to obtain the total living area square footage.
How to measure second floor?
Measure the second floor from the inside when the second story footprint is different from the first. Measure the length and width of each second-story room. Add 5 inches to each length and width measurement to accommodate the exterior and interior walls. Multiply all length and width measurements.
