Measuring your home is important for accessing the value and actual space. There are no set rules, but this guide will allow you to do it correctly and ensure you are getting the full value for your property.
How to Calculate Square Feet of a House
If you are asking, how do I find out the actual square footage of my home? Here are some simple steps to measure the square footage of a house.
- Each floor should be drawn separately with labels for all the rooms you need to measure. However, leave out unfinished areas, patios, staircases on the exterior, and porches.
- Use rectangles to measure. The more of a rectangle you have while calculating the square footage of a house, the better. If you are dealing with rooms or halls that do not have perfect flush walls, this will help. You can measure hallways and anything that is not a room by giving them their own rectangle.
- Take the length and width, in feet, for each of the rooms you measure. Then, multiply the length by the width and jot down the total square footage of each room in the correct space on your drawing or sketch.
- Take each measurement for the rectangles from each room and add them together. Get the sum of the square footage of the house by rounding the number to the nearest square foot.
Is the Garage Included in the Square Footage?
No, the garage space is not included when measuring the square footage of a house. There is also a chance that a basement, even when finished, is also not included. You can still have the basement measurements to note if you sell the home. The second floor of a house would be calculated separately. If listed, you would share the square footage of a home per floor. Also, a finished attic space that is fit for living and has at least seven feet of clearance can be measured and included. Therefore, you would have measurements for the first floor, the second floor, and the attic.
How Do Appraisers Measure Square Footage?
Appraisers measure the square footage based on the interior parts that get hot and cold. That includes closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, kitchens, living areas, finished attics, and enclosed patios. All unfinished areas, airspaces, open patios, or vaulted rooms are not included when calculating the square feet of a house. Storage spaces, a guest house, or a pool house will also be left out of measuring the square footage of a home.