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Finance Calc Kit
Real estate

Price Per Square Foot Calculator

Calculate price per square foot or square meter for real estate property evaluation and comparison.

Property details

$

Price per square foot

$175.00 / sq ft

Price divided by total square feet

Price per square meter

$1,883.68 / sq m

Total price

$350,000.00

Total area

2,000 sq ft

Area in sq ft

2,000 sq ft

How price per square foot is calculated

Divide the purchase price by livable or listed area to compare properties on a per-unit basis.

  1. Normalize the area unit

    2,000 sq ft converts to the square-foot basis used for comparison.

  2. Divide price by area

    Price per Sq Ft=Purchase PriceArea in Sq Ft\text{Price per Sq Ft} = \frac{\text{Purchase Price}}{\text{Area in Sq Ft}}

    $350,000.00 divided by 2,000 sq ft equals $175.00 per sq ft.

  3. Compare two listings side by side

    Switch to compare mode to see which listing offers a lower rate per square foot.

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How the price per square foot calculator works

Price per square foot (or square meter) normalizes property prices by size so you can compare homes, condos, and commercial listings on equal footing. This calculator supports single-property mode and a side-by-side comparison of two options. All math runs in your browser.

Enter the purchase price and area to get the rate per square foot and per square meter. Switch to compare mode to see which listing offers a lower rate. To estimate your monthly mortgage from a purchase price, use the mortgage calculator. To see how much cash you need upfront, try the down payment calculator. For commercial property metrics, review the parking ratio calculator.

Price per square foot formula

Price per Sq Ft=Purchase PriceArea in Sq Ft\text{Price per Sq Ft} = \frac{\text{Purchase Price}}{\text{Area in Sq Ft}}

To convert between square feet and square meters, multiply square meters by 10.7639 to get square feet, or divide square feet by 10.7639 to get square meters.

Worked example: $350,000 home, 2,000 sq ft

  1. Price per sq ft: $350,000 / 2,000 = $175.00 per sq ft
  2. Area in sq m: 2,000 / 10.7639 = 185.8 sq m
  3. Price per sq m: $350,000 / 185.8 = $1,883.74 per sq m

Comparing two properties

A larger home is not always more expensive per unit of space. Compare mode calculates the rate for each listing and shows which offers a lower price per square foot. A $420,000 home at 2,600 sq ft ($161.54 per sq ft) may be a better value than a $350,000 home at 2,000 sq ft ($175.00 per sq ft), even though the total price is higher.

Price per square foot is one input among many. Location, condition, lot size, school district, and renovation needs all affect whether a listing is truly a good deal.

Frequently asked questions

What is price per square foot?
Price per square foot divides the purchase price by the property area. It lets you compare homes of different sizes on a per-unit basis.
Should I use livable area or total area?
Use the same area definition for every property you compare. MLS listings typically report heated or livable square footage. Lot size is separate and not included in this calculation.
Can I compare properties in square meters?
Yes. In single-property mode, select square meters as the area unit. The calculator shows both per-sq-ft and per-sq-m rates. Compare mode assumes areas are entered in square feet.
Is a lower price per square foot always better?
Usually, but not always. A low rate can reflect location trade-offs, deferred maintenance, or an undesirable layout. Use this metric alongside location, condition, and total budget.
How do I use this for commercial property?
Enter the sale price and leasable square footage. Commercial investors often pair this metric with cap rate, NOI, and parking ratio analysis.

Resources and references

The formulas and methods in this calculator were checked against these independent sources.