Calculate the price per square foot of any home or property, solve for total price or area, and compare two listings to find the better value.
Price Per Square Foot Formula
Price per square foot is the total price of a space divided by its area in square feet. The calculator rearranges this same relationship to solve for whichever value you are missing.
PPSF = P / A
P = PPSF * A
A = P / PPSF
- PPSF = price per square foot (dollars per square foot)
- P = total price of the property or space (dollars)
- A = area of the property or space (square feet)
When you choose "Price per square foot," you enter the total price and the area, and the calculator divides one by the other. When you choose "Total price," you enter a known rate and an area, and the calculator multiplies them. When you choose "Area," you enter the total price and the rate, and the calculator divides price by rate. The "Compare two properties" mode finds the price per square foot of each listing and reports which one costs less per square foot, so you can see the better value regardless of the sticker price.
If you do not know the area directly, you can enter a length and a width and the calculator multiplies them to get the square footage. Areas given in square meters or acres are converted to square feet first, since 1 square meter equals 10.7639 square feet and 1 acre equals 43,560 square feet.
Area Unit Conversions and Sample Rates
Use the first table to convert an area into square feet before pricing it. Use the second table to check how total price changes with size at a fixed rate.
| Unit | Equals in square feet |
|---|---|
| 1 square foot | 1 |
| 1 square meter | 10.7639 |
| 1 square yard | 9 |
| 1 acre | 43,560 |
| Area (sq ft) | Rate ($/sq ft) | Total price |
|---|---|---|
| 1,200 | 150 | $180,000 |
| 1,800 | 150 | $270,000 |
| 2,000 | 200 | $400,000 |
| 2,500 | 250 | $625,000 |
Example Problems
Example 1. A home is listed at $350,000 and has 2,000 square feet of living space. To find the price per square foot, divide the price by the area: 350,000 / 2,000 = $175 per square foot.
Example 2. You are comparing two listings. Property A costs $350,000 for 2,000 square feet, which is 350,000 / 2,000 = $175 per square foot. Property B costs $410,000 for 2,300 square feet, which is 410,000 / 2,300 = $178.26 per square foot. Property A is the better value because it costs less per square foot, even though Property B is larger.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate price per square foot?
Divide the total price by the total area in square feet. A $300,000 property with 1,500 square feet costs 300,000 / 1,500 = $200 per square foot. If your area is in square meters or acres, convert it to square feet first, then divide.
Is a lower price per square foot always better?
Not always. Price per square foot ignores lot size, age, condition, finishes, and location. A lower figure can signal a better deal, but it can also reflect a smaller lot, older construction, or needed repairs. Treat it as one comparison point rather than the final word on value.
Does price per square foot include the lot or just the building?
It depends on which area you use. If you divide by the building's finished square footage, the result reflects the structure. If you divide by the lot area, it reflects the land. For comparing homes, most people use finished living area so the listings are measured the same way.
