Square Footage Calculator

Calculate area and square footage for any space

Area Calculator

Formula:

L = Length, W = Width

What is Square Footage?

Square footage is a measurement of area expressed in square feet (ft²). It represents the two-dimensional space within a boundary, such as the floor area of a room, the surface area of a wall, or the land area of a property.

One square foot equals a square with sides that are each one foot long. Square footage is commonly used in real estate, construction, interior design, and landscaping to determine material requirements, property values, and space planning.

How to Calculate Square Footage

For Rectangular Spaces:

  1. Measure the length of the space in feet
  2. Measure the width of the space in feet
  3. Multiply length × width to get square footage
  4. Example: A room that is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide = 12 × 10 = 120 square feet

For Circular Spaces:

  1. Measure the radius (distance from center to edge) in feet
  2. Square the radius (multiply it by itself)
  3. Multiply by π (approximately 3.14159)
  4. Example: A circular patio with radius 5 feet = π × 5² = 78.54 square feet

For Irregular Spaces:

  1. Divide the space into simple shapes (rectangles, triangles, circles)
  2. Calculate the area of each individual shape
  3. Add all the areas together for the total square footage
  4. Example: L-shaped room = calculate each rectangular section separately, then add them

Square Footage Conversion Chart

FromToMultiply By
Square FeetSquare Inches144
Square FeetSquare Yards0.1111
Square FeetSquare Meters0.0929
Square FeetAcres0.00002296
Square YardsSquare Feet9
Square MetersSquare Feet10.764
AcresSquare Feet43,560

Common Applications

Flooring: Calculate carpet, tile, hardwood, or laminate needed for rooms
Painting: Determine wall area to estimate paint quantity required
Landscaping: Measure lawn area for sod, mulch, or gravel coverage
Real Estate: List property and room sizes in listings
Construction: Estimate materials for roofing, decking, or concrete slabs
Interior Design: Plan furniture layout and space utilization

Tips for Measuring Irregular Spaces

Break complex shapes into rectangles, triangles, and circles
Sketch your space on paper and label each section
Calculate each section separately, then add all areas together
For L-shaped rooms, divide into two rectangles
Account for alcoves, closets, and architectural features separately
Add 5-10% extra when ordering materials to account for waste and cuts

Measurement Tips & Best Practices

Accuracy Tips:

  • • Use a quality tape measure for precise measurements
  • • Measure twice to verify accuracy
  • • Round measurements to nearest inch or centimeter
  • • Record measurements immediately to avoid errors

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • • Mixing measurement units (feet and inches)
  • • Forgetting to subtract doorways and windows
  • • Not accounting for material waste
  • • Measuring at only one point in the room