🏡 Price Per Square Foot Calculator

Compare properties fairly by calculating price per square foot. Enter a property's price and size to get $/sqft instantly — or compare two properties side-by-side to see which offers better value per square foot.

🏠 Calculate Price Per Sq Ft

Property Price ($)

Living Area (sq ft)

🔍 Compare Properties (optional)

Property 2 Price ($)

Property 2 Area (sq ft)

📊 Price Per Square Foot

$250

Price per sq ft

Total Property Value$450,000

Living Area1,800 sq ft

Price per sq meter$2,691

Property 2 ($/sq ft)—

Better Value—

US Median (2025)~$220/sq ft

NYC Average~$1,100/sq ft

📖 How to Use Price Per Square Foot in Real Estate

Price per square foot ($/sq ft or $/sqft) is one of the most useful metrics for comparing real estate values. It normalizes property prices to a common unit, making it easy to compare homes of different sizes and identify over- or under-priced properties.

When to Use It

Comparing listings: A $300,000 home at $200/sqft offers more space than a $300,000 home at $350/sqft
Setting offers: Research local $/sqft to determine a fair offer price
Evaluating new construction: Compare build cost per sqft to resale value
Commercial real estate: Standard metric for office, retail, and industrial leasing

Limitations

$/sqft doesn't capture: lot size, location quality, finishes, age, layout efficiency, lot size, school districts, or view. A small luxury condo may justify $800/sqft while a large suburban home at $150/sqft is a great deal. Always consider $/sqft alongside other factors.

💡 Pro Tip: Use $/sqft for Negotiations

If comparable homes in the area sell for $220/sqft and a listing is at $280/sqft, you have data-backed grounds to negotiate. Pull 3–5 comparable sales (comps) from the last 6 months within ½ mile of the property at similar size.

📋 Average Price Per Square Foot by U.S. City (2025)

City / Metro	Avg $/sq ft	Median Home Price	Market Type
San Francisco, CA	$1,200–$1,500	$1.2M–$1.5M	🔴 Extreme
New York, NY (Manhattan)	$900–$1,400	$1.1M–$1.8M	🔴 Extreme
Los Angeles, CA	$600–$900	$750K–$1.1M	🔴 Very High
Seattle, WA	$450–$650	$650K–$900K	🟠 High
Austin, TX	$280–$400	$480K–$650K	🟡 Above Average
Denver, CO	$300–$420	$490K–$680K	🟡 Above Average
Chicago, IL	$175–$280	$280K–$460K	🟢 Average
Phoenix, AZ	$200–$300	$370K–$550K	🟢 Average
Atlanta, GA	$170–$240	$290K–$420K	🟢 Average
Houston, TX	$130–$200	$260K–$380K	🟢 Affordable
Detroit, MI	$70–$130	$150K–$250K	🔵 Very Affordable
Cleveland, OH	$80–$140	$150K–$250K	🔵 Very Affordable

Source: Zillow, Redfin, U.S. Census data, 2025 estimates.

💡 Real-World Examples & Use Cases

Price per square foot lets you compare homes of different sizes fairly.

$400,000 home, 2,000 sq ft

A listing priced at $400,000 with 2,000 square feet of living space.

Result: Price per sq ft = $200.

$650,000 home, 2,600 sq ft

A larger home at $650,000 over 2,600 sq ft.

Result: Price per sq ft = $250.

$285,000 condo, 1,140 sq ft

A condo listed at $285,000 with 1,140 sq ft.

Result: Price per sq ft = $250 — same as the larger home, so compare location and condition next.

⚠️ Common Mistakes & Pro Tips

Comparing different conditions: Price per sq ft ignores renovations, lot size and location quality.
Including unfinished space: Basements and garages usually aren't counted as living area.
Trusting it alone: Use it to compare, then adjust for features.

🔍 People Also Ask

How do I calculate price per square foot?

Divide the price by the living area in square feet.

Is a lower price per square foot always better?

Not necessarily — it ignores condition, location, lot size and finishes.

What counts as living area?

Finished, heated space — usually excluding garages, unfinished basements and porches.

🔁 Handy Converters

Quick unit conversions related to this calculator:

🔁 ft → m 🔁 m → ft 🔁 sq ft → m² 🔁 in → cm All converters →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good price per square foot? −

A 'good' price per square foot is highly location-dependent. In San Francisco or Manhattan, $900–$1,400/sqft is typical. In the Midwest or South, $100–$200/sqft is common. The best approach is to compare to recent comparable sales (comps) in the same neighborhood, ideally within 0.5 miles and sold within the last 6 months.

Does price per square foot include the garage? +

This varies by listing and appraiser. Most residential real estate uses 'gross living area' (GLA) which excludes garages, unfinished basements, and outdoor spaces. When comparing properties, make sure you're comparing apples to apples — both counting finished above-grade square footage, or both including all spaces.

How do I calculate price per square foot for commercial real estate? +

Commercial $/sqft is calculated the same way (price ÷ square footage) but is used differently. Commercial leases are often quoted as annual $/sqft (e.g., $25/sqft/year), while residential is usually an all-in purchase price. For commercial valuation, you'd also consider price per sqft relative to cap rate, NOI, and comparable lease rates in the area.

Is higher price per square foot always worse? +

Not necessarily. Higher $/sqft can reflect better location, superior finishes, luxury amenities, newer construction, or higher demand. A $600/sqft condo in a prime urban location with great walkability, transit, and amenities may offer better value than a $150/sqft house in a rural area far from employment. Price per sqft is a tool for comparison, not an absolute measure of value.

How does square footage affect home value? +

Generally, larger homes have lower $/sqft due to economies of scale, while smaller properties command higher $/sqft. A 500 sqft studio in NYC might cost $1,200/sqft while a 2,500 sqft house in the same neighborhood costs $800/sqft. When building or remodeling, additional square footage typically adds 60–80% of the home's current average $/sqft in value.

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