Square Footage Calculator
Calculate the area of any rectangular space in square feet, square meters, and square yards. Perfect for flooring projects, painting estimates, landscaping, and real estate. Supports measurements in feet, meters, yards, inches, and centimeters.
How to Calculate Square Footage
For a rectangular room or space, square footage is simply length multiplied by width. If your room is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide, the area is 12 × 10 = 120 square feet. This calculator handles the unit conversion automatically, so you can enter measurements in whatever unit you have on hand.
For non-rectangular rooms, break the space into rectangles, calculate each area separately, and add them together. This works for L-shaped rooms, rooms with alcoves, and any other irregular shapes.
Unit Conversion Reference
| 1 Square Foot = | Value |
|---|---|
| Square meters | 0.0929 m² |
| Square yards | 0.1111 yd² |
| Square inches | 144 in² |
| Square centimeters | 929.03 cm² |
Common Square Footage Uses
- Flooring: Calculate how much hardwood, tile, carpet, or vinyl you need to buy, including the recommended 10% overage for cuts and waste.
- Painting: Estimate paint quantity. One gallon covers roughly 350–400 sq ft per coat on smooth walls.
- Landscaping: Determine how much sod, mulch, or gravel to order for a yard or garden bed.
- Real estate: Understand and verify the listed square footage of a property or compare homes of different sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I calculate the square footage of an L-shaped room?
- For an L-shaped or irregular room, divide the space into two or more rectangles. Calculate the square footage of each rectangle separately (length × width), then add the results together. For example, a 20×15 ft section plus a 10×8 ft section gives 300 + 80 = 380 sq ft total.
- How many square feet is a typical room?
- Room sizes vary widely, but here are common averages: a small bedroom is about 100–120 sq ft, a standard bedroom 130–150 sq ft, a master bedroom 200–300 sq ft, a living room 250–400 sq ft, and a kitchen 100–200 sq ft. The median U.S. single-family home is approximately 2,300 sq ft.
- What is the difference between square feet and square meters?
- One square meter equals approximately 10.764 square feet. To convert square feet to square meters, divide by 10.764. To convert square meters to square feet, multiply by 10.764. Our calculator performs this conversion automatically.
- How do I measure a room for square footage?
- Use a tape measure to record the length and width of the room at their widest points, measuring from wall to wall. For accuracy, take measurements in two places in case the walls aren't perfectly parallel. Multiply length × width for the square footage. Include closets or alcoves separately if needed.
- How much flooring or paint do I need for my room?
- Calculate the square footage of the floor or walls, then add 10%–15% as a buffer for waste, cuts, and mistakes. One gallon of paint typically covers about 350–400 sq ft with one coat. For flooring, check the manufacturer's specs, but 10% overage is standard for most installation types.