Square Footage Calculator

About the Square Footage Calculator

Calculates the area of a rectangular space in square feet and square metres from its length and width.

How to use this calculator

1. Measure the length and width of the surface in the same unit, such as feet or metres.
2. Enter the two measurements into the calculator.
3. The calculator multiplies length by width to find the area in square feet or square metres.
4. Read the result and, if needed, use the step-by-step breakdown to see how the answer was found.

The formula explained

For a rectangular surface, area is found by multiplying length by width, so the calculator computes the total surface covered. If you use feet, the result is in square feet, and if you use metres, the result is in square metres.

• l = length of the surface
• w = width of the surface
• A = area of the surface

Step by step method

1. Write down the length and width using the same unit.
2. Multiply the length by the width, so for a rectangle, use \(A = l \times w\).
3. State the answer with square units, such as \(\text{ft}^2\) or \(\text{m}^2\).

Worked example

Problem. Find the area of a room that is \(12\) feet long and \(10\) feet wide.

1. Use the area formula for a rectangle, \(A = l \times w\).
2. Substitute the measurements, \(A = 12 \times 10\).
3. Calculate the product, \(A = 120\).

Tips and common mistakes

• Make sure both measurements use the same unit before multiplying, because mixing feet and inches will give the wrong area.
• If the space is not a perfect rectangle, split it into smaller rectangles, find each area, then add them together.

Frequently asked questions