Price per Square Foot Calculator
Find the price per square foot of a home or project, or the total cost from a rate.
Formulas
Price per square foot formulas
Know any two of these numbers and you can find the third.
$450,000 ÷ 2,000 $225
1,500 × $3.25 $4,875
$300,000 ÷ $150 2,000 sq ft
For buyers and sellers
Comparing homes by price per square foot
A useful shortcut, as long as you compare like with like.
Use the living area
Divide by finished, above-grade square footage. Adding a basement or garage makes the number look lower. The house calculator separates them.
Compare similar homes
Same area, similar age, size and condition. Bigger homes usually cost less per square foot.
Remember the land
A sale price includes the lot, so larger or better-located lots push the price per square foot up.
Worked example
Example: comparing two homes
The cheaper home is not always the better value per square foot.
| Home A | Home B | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $390,000 | $435,000 |
| Living area | 1,600 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft |
| Price per sq ft | $243.75 | $207.14 |
| Price per m² | $2,623.70 | $2,229.67 |
Home B costs $45,000 more but $36.61 less per square foot. Price per m² = price per sq ft × 10.764.
For projects
Pricing projects by the square foot
Flooring, painting and building are often quoted per square foot. Choose Total price above, enter your area and the rate, and check whether the quote covers materials only or installation too. For flooring, the flooring calculator adds waste and rounds up to whole boxes.
FAQ
Price per square foot questions
How do you calculate price per square foot?
Divide the total price by the square footage. A $450,000 home with 2,000 sq ft costs $450,000 ÷ 2,000 = $225 per square foot.
Which square footage should I use for a house?
Use the finished, above-grade living area. Including a basement or garage makes the price per square foot look lower than it really is.
Is a lower price per square foot always a better deal?
Not always. Larger homes usually have a lower price per square foot, and the figure also reflects the lot, location, age and condition. Compare similar homes in the same area.
How do I convert price per square foot to price per square meter?
Multiply by 10.764. For example, $225 per sq ft is about $2,421.88 per square meter.
Does price per square foot include the land?
For a home sale, yes. The sale price covers the house and the lot, so price per square foot is most useful when comparing homes with similar lots.
What is a good price per square foot for a house?
It depends on location, age and condition. Compare recent sales of similar homes nearby rather than a national average.
How do I calculate the cost of a project per square foot?
Divide the total quote by the area. A $4,875 flooring quote for 1,500 sq ft is $3.25 per square foot.
How is commercial rent per square foot calculated?
Commercial rent is usually quoted per square foot per year. A 1,200 sq ft space at $30 per sq ft costs $36,000 a year, or $3,000 a month.