Price Per Sqft Calculator
Enter any two values and the third is filled in automatically. Works for buying a house, pricing a flooring job, or comparing commercial rent.
To calculate price per sqft, divide the total price by the total square footage. A 2,400 sq ft house listed at $360,000 works out at $360,000 ÷ 2,400 = $150 per square foot. To go the other way, multiply the area by the rate: 2,400 × $150 = $360,000.
Monthly and annual figures treat the total as a yearly amount — useful for commercial leases quoted per square foot per year.
The price per square foot formula
There are only two forms of the calculation, and they are the same equation rearranged:
- Price per sq ft = Total price ÷ Square footage
- Total price = Price per sq ft × Square footage
The difficulty is almost never the arithmetic — it is agreeing on what counts as square footage. Two listings can quote wildly different rates for near-identical homes simply because one included the finished basement and the other did not.
What square footage should you divide by?
For residential property, the convention is finished, heated living area measured to the outside of exterior walls. That normally means:
- Included: bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, finished basements at or above grade, hallways, closets, and stairs (counted on each floor they serve).
- Excluded: garages, unfinished basements and attics, open porches, decks, and any space with a ceiling under 7 feet.
For a commercial lease the number you divide by is usually rentable square footage, which adds a share of lobbies, corridors and restrooms on top of the space you actually occupy.
Using price per sqft to compare properties
Price per square foot is the fastest way to sanity-check a price, but it flattens real differences. Treat a gap as a question rather than a verdict — a higher rate can be entirely justified by a better lot, a recent renovation, or a school district.
It is most reliable when you compare homes of a similar size in the same neighbourhood. Small homes almost always show a higher price per square foot than large ones, because the expensive rooms — kitchens and bathrooms — make up a bigger share of the floor plan.
Price per sqft examples
Common figures, worked through both directions.
| Area | Price per sq ft | Total price | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $180 | $216,000 | Condo purchase |
| 2,400 sq ft | $150 | $360,000 | Family home |
| 3,500 sq ft | $210 | $735,000 | Large home |
| 250 sq ft | $4.50 | $1,125 | Laminate flooring |
| 1,800 sq ft | $5.50 | $9,900 | Asphalt roof replacement |
| 2,000 sq ft | $32 / yr | $64,000 / yr | Office lease |
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate price per sqft?
Divide the total price by the total square footage. A $360,000 home with 2,400 square feet is $360,000 ÷ 2,400 = $150 per square foot.
Does price per sqft include the garage?
No. Standard practice excludes garages, along with unfinished basements, attics and open porches. Only finished, heated living space counts toward the square footage used in the calculation.
Why is price per sqft higher on smaller homes?
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most expensive rooms to build, and every home needs them regardless of size. In a small home they represent a much larger share of the total floor area, which pushes the average cost per square foot up.
How is commercial rent per square foot calculated?
Commercial rent is usually quoted per square foot per year. Multiply the rate by the rentable square footage to get the annual rent, then divide by 12 for the monthly figure. A 2,000 sq ft office at $32/sq ft/yr is $64,000 a year, or $5,333 a month.
What is a good price per square foot?
It depends entirely on the local market — the same house can be $90/sq ft in one metro and $700/sq ft in another. The useful comparison is against recent sales of similar-sized homes in the same neighbourhood, not against a national average.