Quick Answer

A property listed at $350,000 with 1,800 sq ft has an estimated price per square foot of approximately $194.44.

Calculate price per square foot

Property Price ($)

Square Footage

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Estimate value from price per sq ft

Price per Sq Ft ($)

Square Footage

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Compare properties

Property Name

Price ($)

Square Footage

Property Name

Price ($)

Square Footage

Common Examples

Input	Result
$350,000 price, 1,800 sq ft	Estimated price per sq ft: approximately $194.44
$250,000 price, 1,400 sq ft	Estimated price per sq ft: approximately $178.57
$500,000 price, 2,500 sq ft	Estimated price per sq ft: approximately $200.00
$150 per sq ft, 2,000 sq ft	Estimated property value: approximately $300,000
$1,200,000 price, 3,000 sq ft	Estimated price per sq ft: approximately $400.00

How It Works

This calculator uses the standard price per square foot formula:

Price per Sq Ft = Total Property Price / Total Square Footage

The reverse calculation estimates total value:

Estimated Value = Price per Sq Ft x Square Footage

What square footage includes

In residential real estate, square footage typically refers to gross living area (GLA), the finished, heated, above-grade living space. It generally includes bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. It excludes garages, unfinished basements, covered porches, and attic space unless finished to the same standard as the rest of the home. Measurement standards vary by region, and appraisers follow specific guidelines (such as ANSI Z765) when calculating GLA.

Comparing properties

Price per square foot normalizes the cost of homes with different sizes, making direct comparison possible. A $400,000 home with 2,500 sq ft ($160/sq ft) is less expensive per square foot than a $300,000 home with 1,500 sq ft ($200/sq ft), even though the total price is higher. This metric is most useful when comparing properties in the same neighborhood, of the same type, and in similar condition.

Limitations

Price per square foot is a rough metric. It does not account for lot size, location within a neighborhood, condition, finishes, layout, number of bathrooms, or outdoor spaces. A renovated home and a fixer-upper with identical square footage in the same area will have very different values despite similar sizes. Always use $/sqft alongside other factors when evaluating a property.

Worked Example

A home is listed at $350,000 and has 1,800 sq ft of living space. Estimated price per sq ft = $350,000 / 1,800 = approximately $194.44. If the average price per sq ft in that neighborhood is $200, this listing is approximately $5.56 per sq ft below the area average, which may indicate a competitive price relative to comparable homes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good price per square foot?

There is no single 'good' price per square foot. Values vary widely by location, property type, condition, and local market conditions. In rural areas, prices might be $80 to $120 per sq ft. In suburban areas, $150 to $250 is common. In major cities, $300 to $800 or more is typical. Compare $/sqft to other recently sold properties in the same neighborhood for context.

Does price per square foot vary by market?

Yes, significantly. Price per sq ft depends on the local real estate market, supply and demand, school district, proximity to employment centers, and many other factors. The same 2,000 sq ft home could cost $100/sq ft in one city and $500/sq ft in another. Always compare within the same local market for meaningful results.

Does price per sq ft include land value?

Yes. The total purchase price includes both the structure and the land it sits on. In areas where land is expensive relative to the building, $/sqft will be higher even for modest homes. Some appraisers separate land and improvement values, but the standard $/sqft calculation uses the total price.

Can I compare different property types using $/sqft?

Comparing $/sqft across different property types (single-family vs. condo vs. townhouse) is generally not reliable. Each type has different cost structures, shared amenities, HOA fees, and land allocations. Condos often have a higher $/sqft than single-family homes in the same area because the unit price excludes shared land and common areas that are factored differently.

What are the limitations of price per square foot?

Price per sq ft is a useful screening metric but has real limitations. It ignores lot size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, condition, age, layout efficiency, views, and specific upgrades. Two homes with the same $/sqft can have very different actual values. It works best as one data point among several when comparing similar properties in the same area.