How To Calculate Cost Per Square Foot

If you are doing any sort of renovation work to your home, then you will likely need to calculate the cost per square foot at some point.

How To Calculate Cost Per Square Foot

When it comes to changing the flooring throughout your home and any garden renovations that you do, you will need to calculate the cost per square foot to get an idea of the overall costs. 

Calculating the cost per square foot is something that you will have to do at some point in your renovation journey.

So, as you start doing work around your home, it is a good idea to find out how to calculate the cost per square foot. But how do you do this?

Well, in this guide, we’re taking a look at exactly that. So, if you want to find out how to calculate the cost per square foot, keep on reading! 

What Is The Cost Per Square Foot?

First things first, let’s take a look at what cost per square foot means (see also “How Much Does It Cost To Install Tile Per Square Foot?“).

Well, as the name suggests, cost per square foot is a calculation that allows you to calculate the cost of something per square foot. 

A square foot is a measurement that is typically used for large calculations.

It is used to calculate the floor plan of houses and gardens and is very easy to calculate.

To work out what a square foot is, you simply need to measure the length and width of an area in feet.

Once you have done this, you multiply these two measurements together and this will give you a calculation of the square foot of the area. 

To calculate the cost per square foot, calculation is a little more complicated.

In order to do this you will need to do additional calculations on top of simply calculating how many square feet are in the area in question.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to calculate cost per square foot. 

How Do You Calculate Cost Per Square Foot?

While calculating cost per square foot is a little more complicated than simply calculating how many square feet are in an area, it isn’t necessarily a difficult calculation to work out.

The formula for calculating this is very simple, and it is as follows:

  • Cost per square foot = total cost/size (in square feet)

So, in order to calculate the cost per square foot of something, you will first need to calculate the total cost of the project.

Generally, this isn’t something you really need to calculate as you will usually already have this number at hand. 

For example, if you are calculating the cost per square foot for new hardwood flooring you have fitted on the downstairs floor of your home, you will know how much you spent on the flooring (see also “How Much Does It Cost To Install 1,000 Square Feet Of Laminate Floors?“).

Likewise, if you want to calculate the value per square foot for your home, then you will already have the value of your home to hand. 

How To Calculate Cost Per Square Foot

In order to calculate the cost per square foot, you will also need to know the total square foot of the area.

As we said earlier, this can easily be done by multiplying the length of the space by the width of the space.

When calculating the cost of your home, it is best to work out the total square foot of each room and then add these together. 

With the total square footage of the area in mind, you can then calculate the cost per square foot.

Simply take the total cost (or value) of the project and divide it by the total square foot. This will give you the cost per square foot. 

Why Would You Calculate Cost Per Square Foot?

There are lots of different reasons why you might want to calculate the cost per square foot of a project.

Most people favor this metric because it breaks down large numbers into smaller figures that you can easily understand.

This goes for professionals and those calculating this for DIY purposes too. 

When using the cost per square foot to calculate the value, it makes understanding the value of something a lot easier.

It also works great for cost comparisons.

For example, if you are renovating an old home to flip, you might use cost per square foot to calculate if the cost of a certain renovation (e.g., new flooring) is worth it. 

Sometimes, large numbers can be very difficult to understand.

But breaking these larger figures down into cost per square foot can make them a lot easier to understand.

That is why you will often find yourself using this calculation when it comes to renovation projects around the home. 

Summary

In short, calculating the cost per square foot is a very easy calculation to do.

There are lots of different reasons why you might want to calculate the cost per square foot, including calculating the costs of getting work done and calculating the value per square foot of your home. 

You can easily calculate the cost per square foot by working out what the measurement is for a square foot and then dividing this into the value of the overall project.

So, if you want to calculate the value per square foot of your home, you can easily do this by dividing the value of your home by the number of square feet in your home. 

This easy formula will be one that you use time and time again. Thanks for reading! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Concept Of Cost Per Square Foot?

The basic concept of cost per square foot is that this calculation can be used to break down larger figures.

Calculating the cost per square foot allows you to break down larger costs and values into numbers that are easier to comprehend.

This can help make big decisions easier to make. 

What Is The Difference Between Cost Per Square Foot And Cost Per Meter?

The only difference between these two numerics is that one uses feet as the metric, and the other uses meters as the metric.

But both numerics can be used for the same purpose.

Luke Powell
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