Calculators · 01 of 05

Square Footage Calculator.

Find the area of a room, or several, in square feet and square meters. Type the length and width. Add as many rooms as your floor plan needs.

  • Imperial & metric
  • Multi-room totals
  • Shareable url
  • No sign-up

The formula

How square footage is calculated

Multiply length by width. For multiple rooms, calculate each one separately and add them together.

  1. Measure

    Measure the length and width of each rectangular section of the room in feet or meters.

  2. Multiply

    Multiply length by width to get the area of that section.

  3. Sum

    If the room has more than one section (an L-shape, a closet alcove), add the section areas together.

  4. Convert (optional)

    Multiply square feet by 0.0929 to get square meters. The calculator does this automatically.

Worked examples

Three rooms, step by step

The same pattern works for every floor plan. Break it into rectangles, calculate, sum.

Example 01

A 12 × 10 ft bedroom

A simple rectangle. One measurement, one multiplication.

Walk-through
12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft

Result 120 sq ft (11.15 m²)

Example 02

An L-shaped living and dining room

Split into two rectangles: the main living area (14 × 16 ft) and the dining nook (11 × 4 ft).

Walk-through

14 × 16 = 224 sq ft

11 × 4 = 44 sq ft

224 + 44 = 268 sq ft

Result 268 sq ft (24.90 m²)

Example 03

A whole floor with a closet alcove

Main floor is 20 × 18 ft. The walk-in closet (6 × 4 ft) sits outside that rectangle, so add it.

Walk-through

20 × 18 = 360 sq ft

6 × 4 = 24 sq ft

360 + 24 = 384 sq ft

Result 384 sq ft (35.68 m²)

When you'd use this

Five reasons people reach for this calculator

Each links to a deeper guide or the next calculator in the chain.

  • Renovation planning

    Flooring quotes, baseboard runs, and square-foot pricing on subcontractor bids.

  • Paint and wallcovering

    Convert floor area into wall area at standard ceiling heights, then plug the result into the paint calculator.

  • Real-estate listings

    Match the figure you publish to the figure you measured, gross or net.

  • Tile and flooring orders

    Buy the right quantity with waste built in. The tile calculator is one click away.

  • Permit applications

    Most jurisdictions require a stated floor area on the permit form.

Conversion reference

Common square footage conversions. All values rounded to two decimal places.
Square feet (ft²) Square meters (m²) Square yards (yd²)
100 9.29 11.11
250 23.23 27.78
500 46.45 55.56
1,000 92.90 111.11
2,000 185.81 222.22
3,500 325.16 388.89

Frequently asked

Square footage questions

The four questions that come up most often.

How do I measure a room with closets or alcoves?
Treat each rectangle separately. Measure the main rectangle, then each closet or alcove, and add them all together. That is exactly what the "Add another area" button does in the calculator above.
How do I convert square feet to square meters?
Multiply by 0.0929. For example, 1,000 sq ft × 0.0929 = 92.9 m². The calculator shows both units on every result line regardless of which unit you typed in.
How is square footage different from cubic footage?
Square footage measures area (length × width), a flat surface. Cubic footage measures volume (length × width × depth). For mulch, gravel, or concrete, you want cubic yards, not square feet.
What is the difference between gross and net square footage?
Gross includes walls, mechanical spaces, and shared corridors. Net is the usable floor area only. Real-estate listings vary on which figure they publish. Always check the source.