Definition
Square footage is a measurement of area equal to a square measuring one foot on each side (1 ft x 1 ft = 1 sq ft). It is the standard unit for measuring floor area, land area, and surface area in construction and real estate. Square footage is calculated by multiplying length by width for rectangular areas. For complex shapes, break the area into rectangles and sum the individual square footages.
Formula
For rectangular rooms: Length x Width = Square Feet. For triangular areas: (Base x Height) / 2. For circular areas: pi x Radius^2. Always measure in feet, or convert inches to decimal feet (divide inches by 12) before calculating. Add 5-15% for waste depending on material type.
Example
Square Footage Calculation Example
A room measures 14 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 4 inches. Converting to decimal feet: 14.5 x 12.33 = 178.8 square feet. For flooring with 10% waste, order 197 square feet. For walls, measure each wall and subtract large openings (deduction), then sum all wall areas. A 12x12 room with 8-foot ceilings has approximately 384 square feet of wall area (perimeter x height).