Total Square Feet: The combined floor area of all rooms. This is the number most contractors, realtors, and material suppliers use when quoting prices in the United States.
Square Meters: The metric equivalent, used internationally for material specs and building standards. One square meter equals about 10.764 square feet.
Square Yards: Total square feet divided by 9. Some carpet and flooring vendors price by the square yard rather than the square foot.
Acres: Total square feet divided by 43,560. Helpful when sizing up land parcels — a typical suburban lot in the U.S. is roughly 0.1 to 0.25 acres.
Total Cost: Your area multiplied by the price per unit. This gives a quick ballpark for material budgets — flooring, tile, paint coverage, etc.
How This Calculator Works
You add one card per room and enter length and width in your chosen unit (feet or meters). The tool multiplies length times width for each room, sums the results, and converts the total to square feet, square meters, square yards, and acres. When you switch units, all input suffixes and the price field update automatically. It assumes rectangular rooms; for irregular shapes, break the space into rectangles and add each as a separate room.
Quick Questions
How do I measure an L-shaped room?
Split the L into two rectangles. Add each rectangle as a separate "room" in the calculator. The total will combine both sections. This works for T-shapes, U-shapes, and other irregular layouts too.
Should I include closets and hallways?
If you are estimating livable square footage (like for a real estate listing), closets are typically included but garages and unfinished basements are not. For material estimates, include every area you plan to cover.
How much extra material should I buy for waste?
Most contractors recommend adding 10% for standard rooms and 15% for rooms with many cuts or diagonal installations. This calculator shows the raw area — add your waste factor on top of the total cost.
What is the difference between square feet and square meters?
Both measure area. Square feet are standard in the U.S. and U.K. for real estate and construction. Square meters are used in most other countries and in scientific contexts. One square meter equals approximately 10.764 square feet.
What is the difference between square feet and linear feet?
Square feet measure area (length times width). Linear feet measure length only (a straight line). Flooring is sold by square feet; trim, baseboards, and fencing are typically sold by linear feet.