Square foot formulas + calculator

How to calculate square feet

Measure the space, choose the right shape formula and keep every measurement in the same unit. For rectangles, square footage is simply length × width.

Square footage calculator

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Square footage formulas

Rectangle or square

Length × width. A 12 ft × 10 ft room is 120 sq ft.

Triangle

Base × perpendicular height ÷ 2. A triangle with a 10 ft base and 6 ft height is 30 sq ft.

Circle

π × radius². A circle with a 5 ft radius is about 78.54 sq ft.

L-shaped or irregular room

Split the space into rectangles or other simple shapes. Calculate each section separately, then add the results. Avoid using the maximum overall length × maximum overall width because that counts space outside the actual room.

Common square-footage mistakes

  • Mixing feet and inches without converting them first.
  • Measuring an irregular room as one oversized rectangle.
  • Confusing square feet (area) with linear feet (length) or cubic feet (volume).
  • Using measured area as the exact purchase quantity without allowing for cuts, breakage or pack sizes.
Quick answers

Square footage FAQs

How many square feet is a 10 × 10 room?

100 square feet.

How many square feet is a 12 × 12 room?

144 square feet.

How do I calculate square feet when measurements include inches?

Convert the inches to a fraction or decimal of a foot first, then multiply length by width.

Can square feet be converted directly to cubic yards?

No. You also need a depth because cubic yards measure volume rather than area.

Keep calculating

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