How To Measure

Sellers and contractors are usually using square foot to compare homes and to order products. In order to estimate the home value, and to know how many products we need to order, it’s better to understand how the square footage is calculated.

Rooms are mainly squares and rectangles, but can also be shapes that can be broken down into squares or rectangles like L-shape or T-shape. Here are the steps of how to get the square footage of a room.

Conversion

At the very beginning, We need to make sure that we’re working in a consistent set of units, in this case, we will be using “Inches”. Normally it is easier to measure the house using inches, however, you must convert them to feet.

Formula:  12×12 inches = 144 Square Inches = 1 Square foot

Example: 18 x 120 inches = 2,160 Square Inches = 2160 Square Inches/ 144 =15 Square feet

For basic shapes, squares and rectangles:

Step 1: to find length and width with measuring tool. 

• Find one side of the area that needs to be measured, and we will set this side as “length”.
• Place tape measure on one end of the length, and extend it to the other end.
• Record the measurement in inches.
• Find another side of the area that needs to be measured, and we will set this side as “width”.
• Place tape measure on one end of the width, and extend it to the other end.
• Record the measurement inches.

Step 2: apply the square footage formula. 

Length (inches) X Width (inches) = Area (square inches)
Square inches / 144 = Square feet

For example: if you have a room that is 240 inches in length and 180 inches in width. Let’s apply the measurements to the formula.

Length (inches)     X Width (inches)   = Area (square inches)

240 inches       X 180 inches    = 43200 square inches

43200 Square Inches / 144 = 300 Square Feet

Therefore, the square footage for the area with 180” length and 240” width is 300 ft²

For Complex Shapes:

Step 1: Break it down into basic shapes. 

For example: if you have an L – Shape room, you will have two rectangles (or squares)

Step 2: Measure the lengths and widths for the two shapes. 
For example :

Step 3: Calculate the square footage of two shapes separately by using the formula: 

Length (inches) X Width (inches) = Area (square inches)

Square inches / 144 = Square feet

and then add the areas of two shapes together.

For example:

Square footage for rectangle is
120 inches  X 480 inches   = 57600 square inches

57600 square inches / 144  = 400 square feet

Square footage for square is
144 inches  X 144 inches  = 20736 square inches

20736 square inches / 144  = 144 square feet

Total area square footage is
400 square feet + 144 square feet = 544 square feet

Therefore, the square footage for the L-Shape is 544 square feet.

Now you know how to calculate square footage. There are also shortcuts to the process such as online square footage calculators that can help you to do all the math.