Introduction
Price per square foot tells you what one square foot of space costs. It is the fastest way to compare homes, offices, or rentals that are not the same size. A big home can cost more in total but less per square foot. This calculator handles that division, and the reverse, along with a few related numbers.
You can use it three ways. Enter a price per square foot and an area to get the total price. Enter a total purchase or lease price and an area to get the price per square foot. Or enter a monthly rent and an area to see the rent per square foot and per year.
There are two extra tools below. The Project Pricing Breakdown helps contractors add overhead and profit to material costs, so you know what price to quote per square foot. The Compare Two Properties tool puts two spaces side by side and shows which one is the better deal.
You can pick your currency and switch between square feet, square yards, or square metres. Every answer comes with a step-by-step solution so you can see exactly how the numbers work.
How to use our Price per Square Foot Calculator
Enter a price and an area, and the calculator shows the price per square foot, the price per square metre, the total price, rent per month and per year, a project quote with overhead and profit, and a side-by-side value comparison of two properties.
Currency: Pick the money symbol you want to see. It only changes the symbol, not the numbers.
Area Unit: Choose square feet, square yards, or square metres. All areas are changed to square feet inside the calculator.
Price per ft² (Find Total Price tab): Type the rate you pay for each unit of area. The tool multiplies it by the area to get the total price.
Total Area (Find Total Price tab): Type the size of the space. Use a number above zero.
Total Price (Price per Unit tab): Type the full purchase price or lease price. The tool divides it by the area to get the price per square foot.
Total Area (Price per Unit tab): Type the size of the home, office, or lot you are pricing.
Monthly Rent (Monthly Rent tab): Type what you pay each month. The tool shows rent per square foot per month and per year.
Total Area (Monthly Rent tab): Type the rentable size of the space.
Project Type: Pick the kind of job, like roofing or painting. This fills in a starting materials cost, which you can change.
Total Project Area: Type how much area the job covers.
Materials Cost per ft²: Type what your materials cost for each unit of area.
Total Materials Cost: Type your full materials bill. This box and the one above update each other.
Overhead %: Type the percent that covers insurance, fuel, tools, and admin time.
Profit Margin %: Type the percent of the final quote you want to keep as profit.
Property Label (A and B): Name each space so the results are easy to read. This is optional.
Interpretation (A and B): Choose if your number is a purchase or lease price, or a monthly rent.
Total Price or Monthly Rent (A and B): Type the amount for each property.
Total Area (A and B): Type the size of each property. The calculator then shows which one costs less per square foot.
Calculate and Reset: Press Calculate to update all results. Press Reset Calculator to return to the default values.
What Is Price per Square Foot?
Price per square foot tells you how much you pay for each single square foot of space. It turns a big number, like a $250,000 home price, into a small number you can compare, like $139 per square foot. Real estate agents, buyers, renters, and contractors all use it.
The Formula
Price per square foot = Total price ÷ Total square feet
You can flip it around too. If you know the rate and the size, multiply them to get the total price:
Total price = Price per square foot × Total square feet
Why It Matters
Two homes can have very different prices and sizes, so comparing the sticker price alone is not fair. Price per square foot puts them on the same footing. A 1,200 ft² condo at $2,400 a month costs $2.00 per ft². A 1,600 ft² condo at $2,800 a month costs $1.75 per ft². The second one is bigger and cheaper per foot, even though the rent is higher.
Where People Use It
- Buying a home: Check if the asking price fits the neighborhood.
- Renting: Compare apartments or offices of different sizes.
- Commercial leases: Office and retail rent is often quoted per square foot per year.
- Construction and remodeling: Contractors quote flooring, roofing, paving, and paint jobs by the square foot.
Monthly vs. Annual Rent
Homes are usually quoted as monthly rent per square foot. Offices and stores are usually quoted per square foot per year. To switch between them, multiply the monthly rate by 12, or divide the yearly rate by 12. Always check which one a listing means before you compare.
Pricing a Job: Cost, Overhead, and Profit
If you sell work by the square foot, your materials cost is only the start. Overhead covers things like insurance, your truck, fuel, tools, and office time. Profit margin is the slice of the final price you keep.
Profit margin is not the same as a markup. To hit a true margin, divide your total cost by (1 − margin). A $11,040 cost with a 20% margin means you quote $13,800, not $13,248. Most contractors aim for 10–20% overhead and 15–25% profit.
Things to Watch Out For
- Measured area can differ. Some listings count basements, garages, or shared hallways; others do not. Compare like with like.
- Location beats math. A low price per square foot in a bad spot is not a deal.
- Small spaces cost more per foot. Kitchens and baths carry costly fixtures, so their rate is higher.
- Condition counts. Age, updates, and layout all move the number.
Other Area Units
Not everyone measures in square feet. One square yard equals 9 square feet. One square meter equals about 10.76 square feet. Convert the area first, then divide, so your rate is correct.