Price per Square Foot Calculator

Price per square foot (price per sq ft, or PPSF) is the most widely used metric for comparing real estate values across properties of different sizes. It strips away the total price and lets you see what you’re actually paying for the space itself.

Formula: Price Per Square Foot = Total Price ÷ Total Square Footage

Reverse (estimating total value): Estimated Value = Comparable PPSF × Subject Property Square Footage

What each variable means:

• Total Price - the listed or sale price of the property.
• Total Square Footage - for homes this is normally the heated, conditioned living area. Garages, unfinished basements and outdoor space are usually excluded unless the listing says otherwise, which is why two houses advertised at the same size can differ by several hundred usable feet.
• Comparable PPSF - the average price per square foot of recently sold similar properties (comparables, or “comps”) in the same neighborhood. Put a comparable home’s size in the optional box and the calculator runs the reverse: it applies your price per unit area to that size and returns an estimated value.

Worked example: A 1,850 sq ft home sells for $462,500.

PPSF = $462,500 ÷ 1,850 = $250/sq ft

If a similar home in the same neighborhood is 2,100 sq ft, its estimated value: $250 × 2,100 = $525,000

Typical U.S. PPSF ranges (2024):

• Rural Midwest: $80–$140/sq ft
• Suburban South: $130–$220/sq ft
• Suburban Northeast: $200–$400/sq ft
• Urban coastal cities (NYC, SF, LA): $600–$2,000+/sq ft

Important caveats:

• PPSF is a blunt tool. It knows nothing about lot size, condition, finishes or layout.
• Smaller homes almost always have a higher PPSF than larger homes in the same area.
• Always compare PPSF within the same neighborhood and property type for a meaningful result.