Price Per Square Foot Calculator
Enter a property price and its square footage to get the price per square foot instantly. You can also compare two or three properties side by side to find the best per-unit value, or reverse-solve: enter a target price per square foot and area to find the implied listing price. Switch between square feet and square metres using the unit toggle.
Formula
Worked example
A home priced at $350,000 with 1,500 sq ft: $350,000 / 1,500 = $233.33 per sq ft. A competing property at $420,000 with 1,800 sq ft costs $420,000 / 1,800 = $233.33 per sq ft, the same rate. A third at $290,000 with 1,300 sq ft is $290,000 / 1,300 = $223.08 per sq ft, the best value of the three.
What is price per square foot and why does it matter?
Price per square foot (PPSF) is the total price of a property divided by its usable floor area. It converts an absolute dollar figure into a per-unit rate, making it possible to compare properties of very different sizes on equal footing. A 2,000 sq ft home listed at $500,000 and a 1,000 sq ft condo at $300,000 have very different total prices, but PPSF ($250 vs $300) immediately shows which offers more space per dollar. Real estate agents, appraisers, and buyers use PPSF as a fast sanity check when evaluating whether an asking price is in line with comparable sales in the same neighbourhood.
What counts as square footage - and what does not
Appraisers measure gross living area (GLA), which includes only heated, above-grade space that is contiguous to the main house. Finished basements, garages, screened porches, and detached structures are excluded from GLA even if they are comfortable and usable. This matters because PPSF is calculated on GLA, so a home with a finished basement appears to cost more per square foot than one without, even if the total usable space is similar. When comparing properties, check whether the advertised square footage is GLA or total finished area. Finished basement space adds value, but typically at $30-$50 per square foot, well below the rate for above-grade living area.
How to compare properties using this calculator
Enable the "Compare a second property" or "Compare a third property" toggle to add more homes. The calculator computes PPSF for each and identifies which offers the lowest rate. Toggle results update as you type, so you can adjust a price or area figure and see the ranking change in real time. The chart below the results shows how total price scales with floor area at each property's PPSF rate, helping you visualise the cost-per-unit relationship across a range of sizes. Use the reverse mode to answer a different question: "If comparable homes sell at $X per sq ft, what should a 1,600 sq ft home list for?"
Factors that move price per square foot up or down
Location is the biggest driver. Across the US, PPSF ranges from around $140 in the East South Central states (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee) to $282 in New England, a spread of more than 100 percent. Within a metro, a school district boundary can add $50-$100 per square foot. Smaller homes cost more per square foot than larger ones because fixed costs (lot, foundation, roof) are spread over fewer units of area. New construction commands a 15-25 percent premium over comparable existing homes. Renovated kitchens and bathrooms add value without adding floor area, lifting PPSF. A three-car garage adds $15,000-$40,000 in value while contributing nothing to GLA. These factors mean PPSF from one property or neighbourhood does not transfer cleanly to another.
US price per square foot benchmarks (2025)
| Region / Market type | Approx. price / sq ft | Relative level |
|---|---|---|
| New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) | $282 | High |
| Pacific (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI) | $223 | Above average |
| National median | $226 | Benchmark |
| South Atlantic (FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, etc.) | $147 | Below average |
| East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) | $140 | Low |
| New construction premium (typical) | +15-25% | Varies |
| Finished basement (per sq ft) | $30-$50 | Below GLA rate |
Median listing price per square foot by region. National median is approximately $226 (Sep 2025, FRED). New construction typically runs 15-25% higher than comparable existing homes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good price per square foot for a house?
It depends on location. The US national median listing price was approximately $226 per square foot in September 2025 (Federal Reserve Economic Data). Markets in New England average around $282/sq ft, the Pacific coast averages about $223/sq ft, while East South Central states average around $140/sq ft. A "good" price is one that is at or below recent sold comparables in the same ZIP code and neighbourhood, not the national average.
Does price per square foot include the basement?
Typically no. Real estate listings and appraisals use gross living area (GLA), which covers only heated, above-grade space connected to the main living area. A finished basement adds value but is usually excluded from the GLA figure used to calculate PPSF. Always ask the listing agent whether the advertised square footage is GLA or total finished area to make sure you are comparing properties consistently.
Why do smaller homes have a higher price per square foot?
Certain costs are largely fixed regardless of home size: the lot, foundation, roof, electrical panel, HVAC system, kitchen, and bathrooms. When those fixed costs are divided across fewer square feet, the per-unit rate is higher. A 900 sq ft cottage in a given neighbourhood will almost always cost more per square foot than a 2,200 sq ft home on a comparable lot, even if the smaller home is cheaper overall.
Can I use price per square foot to calculate rent?
Yes. Divide the monthly rent by the rentable square footage to get rent per square foot per month. Commercial leases are often quoted this way on an annual basis (e.g., $30/sq ft/year), while residential rentals are compared monthly. The formula is the same: rate = rent / area. Enter the rent in the price field and the unit area to get the monthly rental rate per square foot.
How do I reverse-calculate a listing price from a target rate?
Switch the mode selector to "Reverse: find listing price." Enter the target price per square foot (based on comparable sales) and the floor area of the property. The calculator multiplies the two figures to produce the implied listing price. For example, if comps sell at $200/sq ft and the home is 1,800 sq ft, the implied price is $200 x 1,800 = $360,000.