Free price per square foot calculator
Calculate price per square foot for any property — enter total price and square footage to compare homes on a normalized basis, updated live, as you type.
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Price per sq ft is one metric for comparison. It doesn't account for lot size, condition, finishes, or location within a neighborhood.
Results are estimates. Consult a professional.
How the price per square foot calculator works
Price per square foot (PPSF) normalizes home prices so you can compare properties of different sizes on equal footing. Divide the purchase price by the total finished square footage and you get a single number that strips out size as a variable. The calculator also runs the reverse: multiply a target price-per-sqft by a desired square footage to estimate a fair offer on a home you are considering.
The critical detail is what counts as square footage. Standard appraisal practice — and the most useful comparison — measures only finished, conditioned interior space above grade. Garages, unfinished basements, and covered porches are excluded. Including them makes a home look cheaper per sqft but distorts comparisons with similar listings.
Zillow Research — Home Value MethodologyWorked example: comparing two listings
Maria is choosing between two homes in the same neighborhood. Home A lists at $425,000 with 1,800 finished sqft. Home B lists at $510,000 with 2,200 finished sqft. The neighborhood's recent comparable sales average $230/sqft.
Price per square foot by city
Price per square foot varies enormously by city and neighborhood. The reference figures below are citywide medians for finished interior space. Desirable neighborhoods within each city can run 20–50% higher than the city median.
| City / Market | Approx. Median PPSF | Context |
|---|---|---|
| National average | $200/sqft | Single-family median |
| New York City, NY | $800/sqft | Manhattan condos |
| San Francisco, CA | $900/sqft | High-density metro |
| Miami, FL | $325/sqft | Growing Sun Belt demand |
| Chicago, IL | $275/sqft | Varies widely by neighborhood |
| Phoenix, AZ | $210/sqft | Near national average |
| Houston, TX | $140/sqft | Lower land costs |
Source: Zillow/ATTOM home value data, 2024. Medians fluctuate with market conditions.
Tips for using price per square foot accurately
PPSF is a useful starting point, not a final verdict. Here is how to use it without being misled by the number.
- Exclude garages and unfinished basements — Listings sometimes include these in the square footage. Strip them out before comparing, or you will artificially lower the PPSF of the home with more unfinished space.
- Compare within the same neighborhood — PPSF varies block-by-block. A city median is a sanity check, not a benchmark. Pull three to five recent sales within a quarter-mile for a meaningful comparison.
- Adjust for lot size and lot premium — A 3,000 sqft home on a half-acre lot and the same home on a 5,000 sqft lot should not have the same PPSF. Land value is baked into the price but not the square footage.
- Ask what square footage is in the listing — Tax records, appraisal reports, and MLS listings sometimes use different measurements. Confirm whether the number includes or excludes the basement before running the calculation.
- Use PPSF alongside other metrics — Price per square foot tells you nothing about condition, layout, school district, or lot. It is one data point in a multi-factor decision, best used to flag outliers.
Accuracy and limitations
The formula itself is exact — price divided by square footage. The uncertainty lies entirely in the inputs. Inconsistent definitions of what counts as livable space can make the same house look cheaper or more expensive depending on the source. Appraisers, MLS systems, and tax assessors sometimes use different measurements for the same property.
Not financial advice — consult a real estate professional for your specific situation.
Price per square foot terms defined
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