Measurement tools

Square Footage Calculator

Calculate the total area of one or more spaces and subtract sections you do not want included.

Project measurements
Measurement system

Choose the units you normally work with.

Your measurements will be converted automatically when you switch systems.

Area 1

Calculation method

How to calculate square footage

Square footage measures the area of a surface. For a rectangular room or section, multiply its length by its width. If your project contains several sections, calculate each one and add them together. Spaces you do not want included can then be subtracted from the measured total.

1

Measure length and width

Measure the two sides of each rectangular section. HomeMeasureWorks can accept imperial or metric measurements and converts the units automatically.

Area = length × width
2

Add multiple areas

If the room or project is made from several rectangular sections, calculate each section separately and add their areas together.

Measured area = Area 1 + Area 2 + ...
3

Subtract excluded spaces

Use excluded areas for rectangular sections that should not count toward the final project area, such as an opening or another untiled or uncovered space.

Net area = measured area − excluded area
4

Convert the result

The calculator reports the final area in square feet, square meters, and square yards so you can use the same measurement with different project specifications.

1 yd² = 9 ft²

Worked example

Suppose the main room measures 10 × 20 ft. Its area is 200 ft².

You then add a second section measuring 5 × 10 ft, which contributes another 50 ft². The total measured area is therefore 250 ft².

If a 2 × 5 ft section should be excluded, subtract its 10 ft² area:

250 ft² − 10 ft² = 240 ft²

The final project area is therefore 240 ft², which is approximately 22.30 m² or 26.67 yd².

How to measure an irregular room

Many rooms are not perfect rectangles. For an L-shaped room or another layout that can be divided into simple sections, split the space into separate rectangles and use Add another area for each section.

For example, instead of trying to measure an entire L-shape at once, divide it into two rectangles, enter both sets of dimensions, and let the calculator add their areas.

Use Subtract a space when a rectangular section lies inside your measured area but should not be included in the final total.

Square feet, square meters, and square yards

Area units describe two-dimensional surface size. They should not be confused with ordinary length units such as feet, meters, or yards.

Square feet to square meters1 ft² = 0.09290304 m²
Square yards to square feet1 yd² = 9 ft²
Square meters to square feet1 m² ≈ 10.7639 ft²

You do not need to perform these conversions manually. HomeMeasureWorks converts the calculated area and displays all three results together.

Where square footage is useful

A reliable area measurement is the starting point for many home projects. Square footage can be used when planning flooring, tile, paint coverage, carpeting, landscaping, insulation, and other material estimates.

The square footage result itself does not include material waste, package sizes, coverage rates, or product pricing. Those factors belong to the specialized material calculator for the project you are planning.

Planning a tile project?

Once you know the project area, use our Tile Calculator to estimate how many tiles and boxes you need, including waste.

Square footage calculator FAQ

How do I calculate square footage?

Multiply the length of a rectangular area by its width. If the project has several sections, calculate each section separately and add the areas together.

How do I calculate square footage for an irregular room?

Divide the room into simple rectangular sections, calculate the area of each one, then add them together. Subtract any sections that should not be included.

How do I convert square meters to square feet?

One square meter is approximately 10.7639 square feet. The calculator performs this conversion automatically.

What is the difference between feet and square feet?

Feet measure length, while square feet measure area. A space that is 10 feet long and 12 feet wide has an area of 120 square feet.

What this estimate assumes

  • The dimensions entered into the calculator are accurate.
  • Each entered section is treated as a rectangle.
  • Added areas do not unintentionally overlap one another.
  • Excluded spaces are contained within the measured project area.
  • Unit conversions use the measurements entered in the calculator rather than rounded display values.

For best results: measure each section carefully and verify important project dimensions before purchasing materials or ordering work.