Framing

Square Footage Calculator

Convert any area into square feet, square yards, square metres and acres.

ft
ft
For an irregular space, split it into rectangles and run each one separately.
Area sq ft
Square yards
Square metres

How this calculator works

square feet = length × width × quantity

For a triangle, use half the base times the height. For a circle, use 3.1416 times the radius squared. Any irregular space can be broken into these three shapes and totalled.

Worked example

With length 20 ft, width 15 ft, number of identical areas 1 , this calculator returns 300 sq ft.

Square feet by room width

Figures below assume length 12 ft × number of identical areas 1 . Change any measurement in the calculator to get your own numbers.

WidthArea (sq ft)Square metres
8 ft96.008.92
10 ft120.011.15
12 ft144.013.38
14 ft168.015.61
16 ft192.017.84
20 ft240.022.30

For a 12 ft long room. Multiply by your own length in twelfths — a 24 ft long room is double these figures.

Square footage of common rooms and spaces

JobSizeArea
Bathroom 8 ft × 6 ft × 1 48.00 sq ft
Bedroom 12 ft × 11 ft × 1 132.0 sq ft
Living room 18 ft × 14 ft × 1 252.0 sq ft
Two-car garage 24 ft × 24 ft × 1 576.0 sq ft
Single-storey house footprint 50 ft × 28 ft × 1 1,400 sq ft
Quarter-acre lot 110 ft × 99 ft × 1 10,890 sq ft
Standard shipping container 20 ft × 8 ft × 1 160.0 sq ft
Tennis court 78 ft × 36 ft × 1 2,808 sq ft
Four identical offices 12 ft × 10 ft × 4 480.0 sq ft

For rooms that are not rectangular, split the space into rectangles, work out each one and add them together. Use the quantity field to repeat an identical space.

Square foot conversions

TypeSquare feetNotes
1 square yard9.00 Carpet and some flooring is sold this way
1 square metre10.76 The metric equivalent
1 square (roofing)100.0 The unit roofers order in
1 board (drywall, 4×8)32.00 Standard sheet coverage
1 acre43,560 A square acre is about 209 ft on each side
1 square (roofing/siding)100.0 The unit both trades order in
1 sheet of plywood (4×8)32.00 Useful for estimating subfloor
1 hectare107,639 2.47 acres

To go the other way, divide: 500 square feet is 500 ÷ 10.764 = 46.5 square metres.

Square footage questions

How do I calculate square footage?

Multiply length by width, both in feet. A room 20 ft by 15 ft is 300 square feet. For an irregular space, divide it into rectangles, calculate each and add them together.

How many square feet are in a square yard?

Nine, since a yard is three feet and area scales with the square. Carpet and some flooring are still sold by the square yard, so divide your square footage by nine.

How do I find the area of a circle or triangle?

A circle is 3.1416 times the radius squared. A triangle is half the base times the perpendicular height. Both give square feet directly when you measure in feet.

How do I convert square feet to square metres?

Divide by 10.764. A 1,500 sq ft house is 139.4 square metres. To go the other way, multiply square metres by 10.764.

How do you calculate square footage of a house?

Measure each floor externally and add them, excluding the garage, unfinished basement and attic. Listed square footage normally means finished, heated living space — which is why the figure on a listing rarely matches a tape measure.

How much extra should I order for flooring?

Ten percent for straight-laid plank or tile, 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, and 20% for a room with many angles. Order from the same batch — dye lots vary noticeably between production runs.

How do I work out an irregular shape?

Break it into rectangles and triangles. A triangle is half its base times its height. Add the pieces together, and use the quantity field above to repeat any identical section.

How many square feet is a 10x10 room?

One hundred. It is also exactly one roofing square, which is why 10x10 is the reference people reach for when estimating anything sold by the square.

Does square footage include the garage?

No. Listed square footage means finished, heated living space. Garages, unfinished basements, attics and covered porches are all excluded, which is why a listing figure rarely matches a tape measure.

How do I measure a room with a bay window?

Treat the bay as a separate rectangle or trapezoid and add it. For a trapezoid, average the two parallel sides and multiply by the depth.

How many square feet are in an acre?

Exactly 43,560. A square acre measures roughly 209 ft on each side, which is a useful reference when pacing out land.