Measuring for an accurate total
Measure wall to wall at floor level, rounding to the nearest inch, and convert inches to decimal feet by dividing by 12. For example, 11 ft 6 in is 11.5 ft. For an L-shaped room, split it into two rectangles, enter each as its own row, and the total adds them for you. Closets and hallways can be separate rows so you can include or remove them easily.
Worked example
An L-shaped family room split into a 20 × 12 ft rectangle (240 sq ft) and a 10 × 8 ft rectangle (80 sq ft) totals 320 sq ft. Add 5–10% for flooring waste, and you'd order roughly 336 to 352 sq ft of material.
What the numbers are (and aren't)
Square footage here is simple rectangle maths for planning purchases. Appraisers and real-estate listings follow specific standards, such as which below-grade or unfinished areas count, so this total may differ from an official gross living area figure.
FAQ
How do I measure square footage for an L-shaped room?
Split the room into two rectangles, measure each one's length and width, and add their areas. SqftKit lets you enter each rectangle as its own row.
How do I convert inches to feet for the calculator?
Divide the inches by 12 and add them to the feet. For example, 9 feet 3 inches is 9.25 feet.
Does square footage include closets and hallways?
For flooring, include every area that gets the new floor, including closets. Listing standards can treat some spaces differently, so check with your appraiser or agent for official figures.
How many square feet is a 12 by 12 room?
144 square feet, because 12 × 12 = 144.