Calculate the price per square foot for any home, estimate a home's value from your neighborhood's price per sq ft, and compare two properties side by side to find the better deal.
Each example below is calculated with this calculator's exact formulas — Price/SqFt = Price ÷ Area, Price/Sqm = Price ÷ (Area × 0.092903), and Estimated Value = Area × Neighborhood $/SqFt.
A home listed at $450,000 with 1,800 sq ft of living area.
Price per sq ft: $450,000 ÷ 1,800 = $250.00/sqft
Price per sq meter: $450,000 ÷ (1,800 × 0.092903) = $450,000 ÷ 167.2254 = $2,690.98/sqm
Result: $250.00/sqft ($2,690.98/sqm)
The per-sqm figure is handy for comparing with international listings that quote prices in square meters.
A 2,400 sq ft home in a neighborhood where similar homes sell for $250 per sq ft.
Estimated value: 2,400 × $250 = $600,000
Typical range (±5%): $570,000 (× 0.95) to $630,000 (× 1.05)
Result: ≈ $600,000 (range $570,000–$630,000)
Use the range as a negotiation starting point, then refine with recent comparable sales.
Home A: $420,000 for 1,700 sq ft — Home B: $460,000 for 1,950 sq ft.
Home A: $420,000 ÷ 1,700 = $247.06/sqft
Home B: $460,000 ÷ 1,950 = $235.90/sqft
Result: Home B is the better deal — $11.16/sqft cheaper
Home B gives you more space per dollar, assuming condition and location are comparable.
Price per square foot is the most widely used metric in residential real estate. It divides a home's price by its heated living area, giving buyers and sellers a quick way to compare the cost of different properties. This calculator also converts to price per square meter and, in Estimate mode, works the formula backwards to value a home from neighborhood data.
One square foot equals exactly 0.092903 square meters. To convert a price per square foot to price per square meter, divide the price by the area in square meters — or simply use this calculator, which does it automatically. Because a square meter is larger than a square foot, the per-sqm price is always about 10.76× the per-sqft price.
The formula is refreshingly simple: divide the home's price by its square footage.
Price per square foot is the most common real estate metric because it normalizes price by size, letting you compare a 1,500 sq ft ranch with a 2,400 sq ft colonial on the same scale. Appraisers, agents, and listing sites like Zillow and Redfin all use it, and it appears in nearly every market report and CMA (comparable market analysis).
The standard for real estate is heated living area — the finished, climate-controlled space of the home. Garages, unfinished basements, porches, and attics are typically excluded (a finished, heated basement may be counted in some markets, so ask how the listing was measured). The most reliable sources for your home's square footage are the appraisal report, county tax records, and the original floor plan — and they can differ slightly, so use a consistent figure when comparing homes.
Price per sq ft is a powerful comparison tool — when used correctly. The golden rule is to compare apples to apples: similar homes in the same market. These tips will keep your comparisons honest.
$/sqft can change dramatically from one block to the next. Only compare homes in the same neighborhood or school district for a meaningful read.
A renovated kitchen, new roof, or updated HVAC adds value that raw $/sqft ignores. Mentally add or subtract for condition before declaring a winner.
Price per square foot covers the building, not the land. On a large or premium lot, the same house can legitimately cost more per sq ft.
Median $/sqft ranges from under $100 in some metros to over $1,000 in others. Cross-city comparisons tell you about the cities, not the homes.
As useful as it is, price per square foot is a blunt instrument. It captures only the relationship between price and building size — and several important factors fall outside that relationship.
Land value. In expensive land markets, a large share of a home's price pays for the lot, not the structure. Two identical houses on a tiny lot and an acre lot will have very different $/sqft values even though the buildings are the same.
Location premiums. Schools, commute times, views, and walkability are priced into a home but invisible in $/sqft. A condo a block from the beach will always carry a premium per square foot.
Luxury finishes. High-end kitchens, imported stone, and smart-home systems cost real money but don't add square footage. A luxury home will naturally show a much higher $/sqft than a builder-grade home of the same size.
Age and condition. A renovated 1950s home and a brand-new build may share a price tag, but their $/sqft tells you nothing about deferred maintenance or remaining system life.
The takeaway: use price per square foot as a screening tool alongside comparable sales (comps) — never as the sole basis for an offer or valuation.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer: Price per square foot is one metric among many. Use it alongside comparable sales (comps), condition, and location. For an official valuation, get an appraisal or CMA from a licensed real estate agent.