How to Calculate Square Footage?

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The exact technique of calculating square footage is explained here. Those engaging in real estate related calculations, will find it to be a useful reference.

Calculating the area of a place in square feet, is a simple and useful exercise. You don't need to be a geometry or mathematics whiz to get it done. All you need is a standard measuring tape, a pencil, and a calculator (not needed, if you are willing to multiply by hand).

Formula

Area is a quantitative measure of the surface expanse of any object or region. The term square footage comes from the unit of calculating 'Area', which is usually calculated in square feet. That is, when length is measured in feet, the area is calculated in square feet.

There are different formulas for calculating area, according to the geometric shape of that region. Here are the four most common formulas: Formula for the Area of a Square Region: (Length) 2 Formula for the Area of a Rectangular Region: (Length x Breadth) Formula for Area of a Circle: (3.14159 x Radius 2 ) Formula For Area of a Triangle: (½ x Base x Height)

If the length breadth, radius, base, and height are all calculated in the unit of feet, then the area calculated will be in square feet.

Why it's called 'square feet' is clear in case of a square area. Let's say, that the length of a square region is 10 feet, then its area would be 100 square feet. Which means, that the area consists of 100 squares of 1 square foot each. The square is actually a special case of a rectangle, which has length equal to breadth.

Area of a House

You will have to calculate the square footage of a house, in case you are planning to go for a refurnishing project, like the change of carpet or you may need to know the walled area of your house for an interior painting project.

To calculate the area, arm yourself with a tape measure, a pencil, and a piece of paper. Start calculating the area, room by room. Measure the length, breadth, and height of every room in feet. Most of the rooms are rectangular in shape. To calculate the area, just multiply the measured length and breadth.

Area of a Lot

A land lot may not be an exact geometrical figure. It is usually irregular. In that case, what you need to do is measure all the dimensions of the lot and draw a map of it on paper, which is accurate and to the scale.

Then, you can divide the lot area into squares, rectangles, and triangles, according to whatever is the shape of the plot. Next, you must calculate the area of all these individual pieces, using the formulas provided and add it all up.

The sum total of all the areas, of all the individual pieces, will give you the total square footage of your lot. Exactly 43,560 square feet make one acre. So, if you want to convert the calculated area value into acres, then just divide the whole value by 43,560, to get the acreage.

Measuring and calculating a particular area is simple. All you need are the measurements and the right formulas.