How do I calculate square footage?

Multiply length by width in feet. For irregular shapes, break into rectangles, calculate each, and add together.

How do I measure square footage for flooring?

Measure each room's length and width, multiply, add all rooms together, then add 10% for waste and cuts.

What is the difference between square feet and linear feet?

Square feet measures area (length x width). Linear feet measures length only (one dimension).

How do I calculate square footage for an irregular room?

Break the room into rectangles. Measure each rectangle separately (length × width) and add them together. For L-shaped rooms, use the L-shaped option in this calculator. For rooms with curved walls, approximate with multiple straight-edge sections. Add 5-10% waste for materials that need to be cut around the irregular shape.

Why do I need both square footage and perimeter?

Square footage tells you how much material you need for floors, walls, or ceilings (carpet, flooring, paint, drywall). Perimeter (linear feet) tells you how much you need for items that run along edges: baseboards, crown molding, trim, fencing, edge banding. A 12×14 room is 168 sq ft of flooring AND 52 linear feet of baseboard — two different orders.

How much waste should I add when ordering materials?

Standard waste factors: carpet 5-10%, hardwood/laminate 10-15%, tile 10% straight-lay or 15-20% diagonal/herringbone, paint 10% (one extra gallon per 400 sq ft job), drywall 10-15%. Add more for cuts around irregular obstacles or multi-room jobs with different patterns. Always round UP — running short mid-job costs more than buying extra.

What's the difference between square feet, square yards, and square meters?

1 square yard = 9 square feet. 1 square meter ≈ 10.76 square feet. Carpet is typically sold by square yard (especially commercially), flooring and tile by square foot, and concrete/landscaping sometimes by square yard or cubic yard. Always confirm the unit on the order — getting carpet in sq ft when the price was per sq yd causes a 9x cost surprise.

Can I use this calculator for landscape or lot calculations?

Yes. The total acres readout helps for lot sizing and landscape areas. For irregular lots, break the lot into triangles and rectangles using the multi-section feature. Acreage is shown to 4 decimal places — 0.1 acre = 4,356 sq ft, a typical residential backyard.

Square Footage Calculator

Calculate the area of any space by combining rectangles, triangles, circles, trapezoids, and L-shaped rooms. Get instant conversions and cost estimates.

Units:

120.00 sq ft

Shape

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Price per Sq Ft ($) — optional

Results

Total Area

120.00

Square Feet

Total Area

13.33

Square Yards

Total Area

11.15

Square Meters

Total Area

0.0028

Acres

Perimeter (Linear Feet)

44.00 ft= 14.67 yards

Use for baseboard, crown molding, trim, fencing, or edge banding orders.

Add Waste Factor When Ordering

Carpet+10 sq ft (8%)

Hardwood / Laminate+15 sq ft (12%)

Tile (straight)+12 sq ft (10%)

Tile (diagonal)+22 sq ft (18%)

Paint+10%

Drywall+15 sq ft (12%)

Did this help?

How to Use This Calculator

Choose a shape for each area section and enter the dimensions. Use the unit toggle to switch between feet, inches, and meters. Add multiple sections to calculate the total area of complex spaces. Enter a price per square foot to estimate project costs for flooring, painting, or other materials.

Formula Used

Rectangle: L x W. Triangle: 0.5 x Base x Height. Circle: pi x r squared. Trapezoid: 0.5 x (Side1 + Side2) x Height. L-Shaped: (Main L x W) + (Extension L x W).

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Disclaimer

This calculator is for estimation purposes only. Results may vary based on local conditions, materials, and building codes. Always consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on these calculations. MyContractorTools is not responsible for any errors or omissions.