The square footage of a home influences the listing price, property taxes, home insurance rates, and other factors. That’s why it may come as a surprise that no national standard exists in Canada for measuring residential property. Unfortunately, the lack of standards on how and what to measure results in significant discrepancies. These inconsistencies can make shopping for and comparing residential real estate properties in Canada confusing and difficult, even for real estate professionals.
Learn how to calculate square footage of a house, and when you should hire a professional to measure your home.
Key Takeaways
- Accurately measuring square footage is crucial for property value, assessment, and comparing homes for sale
- Only finished, above-grade rooms with heating and a ceiling height over seven feet are included in a home’s square footage on a real estate listing
- If measuring the square footage of your home is overwhelming, contact a home appraiser or a professional measurement company
Square footage is typically calculated by multiplying the length and width of a room. However, if the room is irregularly shaped, you may need to divide the space into smaller areas. Here’s how to calculate the square footage of a room:
Measuring a Square or Rectangular Room
To calculate the square footage of a square or rectangular area, measure its length and width in feet, and then multiply these two measurements.
For example, if a room is 11 feet long and 15 feet wide, then the total square footage of that room is 165 square feet (11 × 15 = 165).
Measuring an L-shaped Room
If the room is not perfectly square, you will need to split the room into box-shaped sections.
For instance, if you have an L-shaped kitchen, break the room into two separate boxes. Measure each box’s length and width, then add both measurements to find the total square footage.
Measuring a Room with a Triangular Section
What if the room has an odd shape because it’s missing a section? For example, a room with a triangular window that opens onto a city-view balcony. In that case, you’ll need to repeat the process of splitting the room into box sections, only this time, one of the boxes is a triangle.
Measure the length and width of each box to calculate each section’s square footage. Divide the total size in half for the triangular area. Now, add all the measurements together.
Calculating the Gross Living Area
Gross living area (GLA), also known as gross floor area (GFA), refers to the total, finished, and above-grade square footage of a house. To accurately measure the gross living area, measure each room and add the measurements together. In some cases, exterior measurements will be used to calculate the GLA.
On the other hand, total living area (TLA) often includes finished basements and separate, finished buildings, such as guest houses. Total square footage may also include unfinished basements and garages.
Sum It Up
- Square or rectangular rooms: Gross living area = length × width
- Circular rooms: Gross living area = π × (diameter/2)
- Triangular rooms: Gross living area = (length × width)/2
- To measure the total gross living area (GLA) of a home, calculate the square footage of each room and add it all up
Measuring the square footage of your home accurately is essential for several reasons, especially when you are buying or selling a home:
- Property value – Square footage is used to calculate your property value, which informs your property tax amount
- Avoid legal issues – Misrepresented square footage measurements during a real estate transaction could result in a legal battle
- Compare properties – Many homebuyers use a property’s total square footage as a benchmark to help them compare properties and decide how much to offer on a home
Accurate home measurements are especially important when selling a home in Alberta, as it is the only province that uses the Residential Measurement Standard (RMS). This formal method of measuring and reporting living space in residential housing must be adhered to by all real estate agents and sellers in the province.
With that in mind, hiring a professional measurement company or a home appraiser to provide precise measurements may be a wise investment, whether you are a seller or a buyer. However, two different appraisers could come up with slightly different measurements for the same home, but the variance should be minimal.
Virtual tours, 3D floor plans, and laser-guided square footage measurements are now considered industry standards for measuring residential real estate, which can reduce the likelihood of inaccurate measurements.
Not all space in your home should be included in your home’s gross living area. In general, you can include rooms in your home with the following attributes in the home’s square footage calculations:
- A ceiling height of seven feet or higher
- Walls with drywall or similar wall covering
- Flooring
- Heating and cooling
The rooms that typically count towards a home’s gross living area, if they are finished, include:
- Living room
- Family room
- Kitchen
- Dining room
- Bathrooms
- Bedrooms
- Porch with heating and cooling system (if applicable)
Unfinished and below-grade areas in the home that are not included in the home’s gross living area consist of:
- Garage
- Attic
- Rooms with a sloping ceiling
- Basement (finished or unfinished)
- Separate storage areas, such as sheds
- Pool house
- Guesthouse
- Detached in-law suites, coach houses, or lane houses
In resale homes, square footage calculations should only include indoor living space. Room measurements should be taken from the inner wall to the inner wall, also known as “paint to paint” measurements.
In contrast, newly built homes may base their square footage calculations on outer wall-to-outer wall measurements. Depending on the materials used, this can mean a significant difference between the reported calculation and the actual living space.
Even trickier are the square footage measurements developers provide for buildings and homes that are not yet built. These pre-construction measurements are tricky because there is no physical structure to measure. While floor plans state square footage, you shouldn’t rely on sales brochures or other materials, including builder floor plans, for accurate measurements.
Instead, pre-construction home and condo buyers should hire a real estate lawyer. These knowledgeable professionals can confirm if the sales contract contains all the necessary details for a new build purchase. Regardless of your decision, the key is to document all measurements, agreements, and promises in writing.
Be Cautious of Price Adjustment Clauses for New Builds
Another legal dilemma is including a price adjustment clause in a sales contract. This clause allows developers to finalize the sale of a new build even if the final square footage of the sale unit is 15% less (or more) than the square footage calculated in the sales contract.
The dilemma is that the price adjustment clause legally requires the buyer to adjust their final purchase price to match the final square footage sold.
For example, you are purchasing a 1,000-square-foot condo for $250 per square foot. When the unit is complete, the living space is 1,150 square feet—15% larger than the unit size in the sale contract. Based on the price adjustment clause, you must pay for the additional cost of the extra space.
To avoid any price shocks, seek the help of legal professionals who understand your new build sales contract.
If you find out a house you bought is priced based on inaccurate square foot measurements, you have several options. The right solution will depend on where you are in the purchase and sale agreement.
If you are still negotiating, one option is to ask for a price reduction based on the prices of comparable homes. If the seller refuses to adjust the price, you may have legal grounds to withdraw from the purchase contract without incurring any penalties. Some sale agreements may include a disclaimer stating that the buyer should verify all measurements. In such cases, you may consider hiring a professional for accurate measurements before proceeding with the purchase.
After closing the sale, you may need to consider hiring legal counsel and either sue your agent, the seller’s agent, or the seller. You’ll need to prove that the misrepresentation was malicious or intentional, which isn’t always the case. For better clarity, consult a legal professional before committing to an expensive legal course of action.
Bottom Line
Accurate home square footage measurements in Canada are important for buyers, sellers, and homeowners. Since square footage often dictates the comparative value of properties, imprecise measurements can lead to misunderstandings between homebuyers and sellers.
Compare homes on Zolo.ca, where you can filter by square footage, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and more.
How do you calculate sq ft?
To calculate a room’s square footage (sq ft), measure the length and width of the room in feet. Next, multiply the length and width measurements to determine the total square footage. The simple formula is length (in feet) x width (in feet) = total sq ft.
How many square feet is a 12×12 room?
To calculate the square footage area of a 12’ by 12’ room, multiply 12 x 12. For example:
12’ x 12’ = 144 sq ft.
How do you calculate floor area in m2?
Metres squared, or m2, is calculated by measuring the room’s length and width in metres and multiplying the length and width measurements together. The simple formula is length (in metres) x width (in metres) = total m2. For example:
5m x 4.5m = 22.5m2
How to calculate square footage for flooring?
When calculating the square footage of a room for flooring, measure the length and width of the floor area in feet and multiply them to determine the square footage. If the flooring will run through multiple rooms, add the square footage measurements together. For rooms that are irregularly shaped, break the room into rectangular sections.
When measuring for flooring, purchasing an extra 10-15% is recommended to account for wasted materials. For example:
Room measurements: 10’W x 12’L = 120 sq ft
Accounting for waste: 120 x 1.15 = 138 square feet of flooring
