Square Footage Cost Calculator
Calculate project cost by multiplying square footage × cost per square foot. The multi-shape calculator above includes a cost field for instant total estimates.
Cost Per Square Foot Calculator
Typical cost ranges
Flooring: hardwood installed $8-15/sq ft, laminate $3-7, LVP $4-9, tile $7-20, carpet $3-8. Quality, brand, and labor market drive most variation.
Paint: $1.50-4/sq ft of wall area for materials and labor on a standard repaint. Premium paints and detailed prep push this higher.
Construction: new home build $150-300/sq ft of finished space depending on region and finish level. Renovations vary too widely to generalize.
Material vs. installed cost
"Cost per square foot" can mean material only, installation only, or installed (material + labor + materials). Always confirm which you're comparing.
For DIY projects, you're paying material cost. For contractor bids, you're paying installed cost. The multiplier is typically 2-3× material for moderate-skill work, higher for specialty trades.
The cost-per-sq-ft formula in practice
Cost per sq ft = total project cost ÷ total square footage. Reversed: total cost = sq ft × cost per sq ft.
Worked example, hardwood flooring: 300 sq ft × $4.50/sq ft material = $1,350. Add 10% waste: $1,485. Add labor at $3/sq ft: $900. Total: $2,385.
Worked example, paint job: 350 sq ft of wall × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 2 gallons at $50/gal = $100 paint. Add labor at $1.50/sq ft of wall: $525. Total: $625.
Worked example, kitchen remodel: 200 sq ft × $200/sq ft = $40,000 basic, $300/sq ft = $60,000 mid-range, $500/sq ft = $100,000 custom.
Always separate material cost from labor cost. Material is fixed by sq ft. Labor varies dramatically by project complexity.
Material vs labor cost share by trade
Painting: 80% labor, 20% material. A $4/sq ft paint job is roughly $3.20 labor + $0.80 material.
Carpet flooring: 60% labor, 40% material. A $5/sq ft carpet job is $3 labor + $2 material.
Hardwood flooring: 50% labor, 50% material. A $10/sq ft hardwood is $5 labor + $5 material.
Tile flooring: 60% labor, 40% material. A $15/sq ft tile is $9 labor + $6 material.
Asphalt roofing: 50/50. A $5/sq ft roof is $2.50 labor + $2.50 material.
Drywall: 50/50. A $2.50/sq ft drywall job is $1.25 labor + $1.25 material.
When budgeting, separate material from labor. Buying higher-grade material doesn't increase labor cost — installing $10/sq ft hardwood costs the same labor as $5/sq ft hardwood. This is why premium materials often have better cost-per-coverage ratios.
Regional cost variation in 2024
Cost per sq ft varies dramatically by region. National averages with regional spreads (2024):
Hardwood installed: $8-15/sq ft national, $6-12 Midwest, $10-18 West Coast.
Tile installed: $10-20/sq ft, ±30% by region.
Carpet installed: $3-7/sq ft, less regional variation.
Exterior paint: $1.50-3.50/sq ft, +50% in high-cost coastal markets.
Concrete (plain slab): $4-8/sq ft, ±25% by region.
Drywall installed and finished: $1.50-3/sq ft.
Kitchen remodel: $150-500/sq ft, varies most with finish level.
Bathroom remodel: $200-600/sq ft.
New home construction: $150-300/sq ft national, $500+/sq ft in custom builds.
Always get 3+ quotes. Pricing varies 30-50% between contractors for the same scope.
Pro tips
Always include waste factor
Cost estimates with no waste factor underestimate by 5-25%. Apply the waste factor to the area BEFORE multiplying by cost.
Get three bids
Contractor pricing varies wildly by region and season. Three bids give you a real range. Median (middle bid) usually wins.
Materials vs. labor
Track them separately. Materials are usually the smaller line item - labor is what blows budgets. A $5/sq ft material can become a $15/sq ft installed cost.
Big jobs get cheaper per sq ft
Setup and mobilization are fixed costs. A 100 sq ft tile job might cost $20/sq ft; a 500 sq ft job is $14/sq ft for the same product.