Compare two more properties or quotesPrice and area for a second and third option
More costs and pricingMaterial allowance, removal, flat fees, margin, sales tax
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Price per square foot is the total price ÷ the finished square footage, so a $450,000 home with 1,800 sq ft works out to $250 per sq ft. The US median listing price was $223 per sq ft in September 2026, from $147 in West Virginia to $717 in Hawaii. Count only finished, heated, above grade living space with ceilings of at least 7 feet; garages, unfinished basements and porches stay out of the figure.
How to calculate price per square foot
One division does the work: price ÷ area. This cost per square foot calculator runs it forwards or backwards, and the contractor tab multiplies instead of dividing, so the same rate turns into a job total.
| Price per sq ft buyers, sellers, renters | Quote by the sq ft contractors | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Finished living area in sq ft, m² or sq yd (1 m² = 10.764 sq ft, 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft) | Length × width (or wall height) × number of areas, plus any extra area and material allowance |
| Price | Sale price, monthly rent or annual lease | Your rate per sq ft, plus removal per sq ft and flat fees |
| Rent and lease | Monthly rent ÷ area, or annual lease ÷ area; × 12 or ÷ 12 to switch | Not used |
| Working backwards | Total price = rate × area; area = total price ÷ rate | Total = area × rate, before margin and tax |
| Result | Price per sq ft = total price ÷ area | (Area × rate + removal + fees) ÷ (1 minus profit margin), then + sales tax |
Worked example 1: a $450,000 home with 1,800 sq ft of living area
Worked example 2: hardwood floor in a 15 × 12 ft room at $12 per sq ft
When to use this price per square foot calculator
Any time two prices cover different amounts of space, the per square foot figure puts them on the same scale and leads to smarter real estate decisions.
- Comparing homes in the same area: a bigger house almost always costs more in total, which tells you very little on its own. Divide each one by its living area and the cheaper home per square foot shows up straight away, even when its sticker price is the highest of the three.
- Spotting an overpriced or undervalued listing: line it up against recent sales nearby.
- Sellers setting a listing price: take the price per sq ft of homes that sold close by and multiply it by your own square footage. The Total price mode does that sum for you.
- Investors weighing rental or resale potential: switch to monthly rent and see rent per sq ft next to the purchase price per sq ft.
- Renting an office, shop or warehouse: commercial space is quoted per square foot per year, so check what a monthly figure from a landlord really means before you sign.
- Checking a contractor's quote: divide the quote by the area being covered and hold it against the usual rate for that job. A flooring or paint quote far above the normal band needs a reason, such as removal of the old floor or heavy prep.
- Quoting a job as a contractor: enter your rate and the room size on the second tab.
- Checking listed square footage: an MLS figure can include a garage or unfinished space, so recount the finished area and rerun the number.
What square footage counts in price per square foot?
Use finished, heated, above grade living space with a ceiling of at least 7 feet, measured from the outside walls. Garages, unfinished basements and porches stay out, even when a listing adds them in.
| Space | How it is treated | Counts? |
|---|---|---|
| Finished rooms | Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and sunrooms that are heated and finished, plus closets, hallways and built ins. | Yes |
| Ceiling height | The space needs a ceiling of at least 7 feet, or 6 feet 4 inches under beams and sloped ceilings. | Yes, at 7 ft or more |
| Garage | Left out of living area, attached or not. | No |
| Basement | Below grade space is not part of the main figure. A finished basement is usually left out unless it meets livable space standards. | Usually no |
| Porches, decks, balconies | Outdoor space stays out unless it is fully enclosed, heated and finished to the same standard as the house. | No |
| Attics and outbuildings | Unfinished attics and detached structures are not counted. | No |
| Lot size | Land is valued on its own. The calculator only uses the built living area. | No |
For offices and shops, pick one standard (gross, rentable or usable square feet) and use it for every property you compare.
Average price per square foot in the U.S.
The median US home listed at $223 per sq ft in September 2026, on a median listing price of $419,250 and a median size of 1,825 sq ft. A year earlier it was $226. Your state moves the number far more than the national trend does.
Median listing price per square foot by state, September 2026
| State | Price per sq ft | Median listing price | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $166 | $325,000 | 26% below |
| Alaska | $260 | $435,000 | 17% above |
| Arizona | $260 | $459,900 | 17% above |
| Arkansas | $167 | $318,743 | 25% below |
| California | $456 | $725,000 | 104% above |
| Colorado | $281 | $564,000 | 26% above |
| Connecticut | $280 | $522,500 | 26% above |
| Delaware | $232 | $484,998 | 4% above |
| District of Columbia | $483 | $527,500 | 117% above |
| Florida | $249 | $409,950 | 12% above |
| Georgia | $187 | $389,750 | 16% below |
| Hawaii | $717 | $732,450 | 222% above |
| Idaho | $293 | $593,000 | 31% above |
| Illinois | $187 | $324,950 | 16% below |
| Indiana | $163 | $299,000 | 27% below |
| Iowa | $174 | $284,900 | 22% below |
| Kansas | $157 | $296,000 | 30% below |
| Kentucky | $174 | $307,775 | 22% below |
| Louisiana | $152 | $270,000 | 32% below |
| Maine | $279 | $450,000 | 25% above |
| Maryland | $229 | $425,000 | 3% above |
| Massachusetts | $410 | $714,250 | 84% above |
| Michigan | $188 | $299,900 | 16% below |
| Minnesota | $197 | $379,900 | 12% below |
| Mississippi | $151 | $292,250 | 32% below |
| Missouri | $172 | $300,000 | 23% below |
| Montana | $321 | $635,000 | 44% above |
| Nebraska | $169 | $335,000 | 24% below |
| Nevada | $267 | $480,000 | 20% above |
| New Hampshire | $310 | $590,000 | 39% above |
| New Jersey | $312 | $559,500 | 40% above |
| New Mexico | $217 | $399,475 | 3% below |
| New York | $378 | $605,000 | 70% above |
| North Carolina | $212 | $400,000 | 5% below |
| North Dakota | $174 | $370,700 | 22% below |
| Ohio | $167 | $284,000 | 25% below |
| Oklahoma | $163 | $296,643 | 27% below |
| Oregon | $300 | $550,000 | 35% above |
| Pennsylvania | $189 | $309,000 | 15% below |
| Rhode Island | $379 | $569,900 | 70% above |
| South Carolina | $200 | $359,945 | 10% below |
| South Dakota | $204 | $375,000 | 9% below |
| Tennessee | $221 | $429,450 | 1% below |
| Texas | $181 | $355,765 | 19% below |
| Utah | $253 | $579,000 | 13% above |
| Vermont | $273 | $499,450 | 22% above |
| Virginia | $234 | $455,953 | 5% above |
| Washington | $340 | $639,475 | 52% above |
| West Virginia | $147 | $259,997 | 34% below |
| Wisconsin | $217 | $389,900 | 3% below |
| Wyoming | $216 | $496,500 | 3% below |
Listing prices, not sold prices. Pick your state under Compare with in the calculator to test a home against it.
Urban, suburban and rural areas
| Type of market | Typical price per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Rural | $60 to $140 |
| Suburban | $80 to $220 |
| Urban | $150 to $450 |
| High cost cities | $400 to well over $1,000 |
Why does price per square foot vary so much?
Two homes of the same size can sit hundreds of dollars apart per square foot. Check these before you call one a bargain.
| Factor | What changes the number | Typical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Location | State and city carry the most weight. | $147 in West Virginia to $717 in Hawaii |
| Type of market | Cities pack more value into each foot of floor than the countryside does, so the same house shape can change price several times over. | Rural $60 to $140, urban $150 to $450 |
| Home size | Bigger homes usually land lower per square foot than smaller ones on the same street. | A 3,000 sq ft home rarely costs twice a 1,500 sq ft one |
| What was measured | MLS square footage can include a garage or unfinished space. Appraisers use above grade finished area only, which pushes the per foot price up when the extra space comes out. | Recount before comparing |
| Comparable sales | Listing prices are what sellers hope for. | Use sold prices within half a mile and 20% of the size |
| Condition and features | Layout, upgrades and condition are not in the formula at all, so a renovated kitchen and a dated one look the same until you adjust for them. | Compare like with like |
| Measurement standard | For commercial space, gross, rentable and usable square feet give different answers. | Use one standard for every property |
How much do contractors charge per square foot?
Floors, paint and drywall are usually priced by the square foot. These are the usual 2026 bands; the Quote by the sq ft tab loads the middle of each one as a starting rate.
| Job | Typical price per sq ft | Measured on |
|---|---|---|
| Interior painting, whole home | $1 to $4 | Floor area of the home |
| Wall painting | $1 to $2 | Wall surface |
| Ceiling painting | $1 to $2.50 | Ceiling surface |
| Hardwood floor installation | $6 to $18 | Floor area |
| Laminate floor installation | $1 to $4 | Floor area |
| Carpet installation | $2 to $8 | Floor area |
| Vinyl plank installation, labor | $3 to $10 | Floor area |
| Tile installation, labor | $4 to $32 | Floor or wall area |
| Old floor removal | $1 to $6 | Floor area |
| Drywall installation | About $2 | Wall and ceiling surface |
| Finishing a basement | $7 to $23 | Basement floor area |
| Building a new house | About $203 on average | Home floor area |
Tile and stone run widest because the material itself ranges from a few dollars to dozens per square foot.
How do contractors quote a job by the square foot?
A square foot quote is only as good as the measurement under it. Most pricing mistakes happen before any rate is applied.
- Measure the real surfaceFloor jobs use length × width. Wall jobs use wall length × height, minus large openings if you price that way.
- Pick a rate per sq ftStart from your own past jobs and check it against the usual band for that work.
- Add a material allowanceCuts, pattern matching and spare boards all eat material. Put your own allowance on top of the measured area so the order covers the job.
- Price removal and prepTearing out an old floor is its own line.
- Add flat fees and marginTrip charges, permits and disposal do not scale with area, so keep them out of the rate. Then set the margin you need and add sales tax where it applies.
- Show the price per sq ftCustomers compare quotes per square foot, so print the effective rate on the quote.
The Quote by the sq ft tab in the calculator runs these steps in order.
Quoting floors and walls by the square foot? Be the contractor who picks up.
Most of these jobs start with a caller asking "what do you charge per square foot?" while your hands are full of tile spacers or a roller. Miss that call and they ring the next name on the list. ServiceAgent answers every call day and night, gives your rates, books the measuring visit and sends the follow up. Run your own numbers in the ROI calculator.
Book a free demoFrequently asked questions
Short answers on price per square foot for homes, rentals and contractor quotes.
Book a free demoWhat does price per square foot mean?
It is the cost of one square foot of a property: the total price divided by the finished living area. It lets you compare homes of different sizes on one scale.
How do you calculate cost per sq ft?
Divide the total price by the square footage. A $450,000 home with 1,800 sq ft is $450,000 ÷ 1,800 = $250 per sq ft. A cost per square foot calculator does the same sum and can also work back from a rate to a total price or an area.
What is a fair price per square foot?
It depends on where the home is. The US median listing price was $223 per sq ft in September 2026, but states run from $147 to $717. The fairest test is recent sold prices for similar homes within about half a mile.
Is price per square foot the best way to value a home?
It is a quick screen, not a valuation. The figure ignores location within a town, layout, condition and upgrades, so use it to shortlist homes and let comparable sales or an appraisal settle the price.
Do larger homes always have a lower price per square foot?
Often, not always. Larger single family homes tend to land lower per square foot than smaller ones nearby, and a 3,000 sq ft home rarely costs twice what a 1,500 sq ft home does.
How can buyers and sellers use price per square foot?
Buyers divide each listing by its living area to see whether a home is priced fairly against the market. Sellers take the price per sq ft of nearby sold homes, multiply it by their own square footage and use that as a starting point for a competitive listing price.
Does this calculator account for lot size?
No. It only uses the built living area you enter. Land value is separate, so two homes with very different lots can show the same price per square foot.
Is price per square foot reliable in every market?
No. It works best where homes are similar. In rural areas ($60 to $140 per sq ft) and luxury or high cost city markets ($400 to well over $1,000), unique homes make the average a weak guide.
Can price per square foot help investors?
Yes. Pair the purchase price per sq ft with rent per sq ft to judge rental or resale potential. Commercial rent is quoted per square foot per year: 1,500 sq ft at $30 per sq ft a year is $45,000 a year, or $3,750 a month.
Can you build a house for $125 per square foot?
That is well under the national average of about $203 per sq ft to build a home, so expect it only on a small or very basic build. Get local bids and check what each one includes per square foot.
Leads growth and product marketing for ServiceAgent at SaaS Labs, where he has worked in product marketing since 2020. Writes ServiceAgent's coverage of AI call answering, CRM and home services operations.
Published by ServiceAgent, the AI front office for home service teams. Results are estimates for comparison only. Property values depend on location, condition and the exact area measured, and job prices depend on local rates and site conditions. Get an appraisal or a written quote before you rely on a figure.