That idea of calculating your home’s square footage might not be all that appealing, especially if you’re like me and the idea of doing math is possibly the worst thought in the world.

However, doing so is often necessary and it is a little easier than you think. Plus, I did the research so you don’t have to.

Here are some step-by-step instructions on getting the job done.

Why and Where

First, it is helpful to know why you might need to know the square footage of your current or future home. For one, the measurement plays a large part in determining a home’s worth.

Whether you’re buying or selling, knowing the square footage is instrumental to setting a price or negotiating. Also, if you’re the buyer, it will help you to have a better idea of tax costs.

Now, the first and easiest step to your calculation is determining the area you need to measure. It might be the whole house or just one room. Identify the room(s), then get ready to measure.

Once you’ve determined the space, you’ll need to measure both the length and width of room—one long wall and one shorter wall if you’re working with a rectangular room. Then multiply the two numbers to determine the square footage. That’s it!

There are a few ways to actually measure the walls. You can use a typical measuring tape or you can purchase a more advanced version that displays the exact measurements on a screen for you.

Dive even further into the high-tech world of measuring tapes by purchasing one that uses a laser to accurately make measurements, then see the measurements on its display screen.

An Entire Home 

Now, calculating the square footage of an entire home might seem… scary. What if it’s freezing outside? Or raining?

The good news is you can get this done without leaving the house. Just calculate the square footage of individual rooms and add them up. It’s as easy as that.

However, keep in mind that this is an estimate and more reliable for interior projects. Professionals typically measure the outside of a home for square footage and there are certain professionals who are used to determine these measurements for sale listings.

Now, what do you do if you have an odd shaped room or a house with square-like sections breaking off here and there? It’s easy: break them into manageable and measurable parts. Lay down some tape, taking care to make sure it’s straight, and measure the “rooms” by sections, then add them up.

So, calculating square footage isn’t as difficult as you might have thought. There are even online calculators that will do the work for you after you do the basic measuring. Calculatorsoup.com has a square footage calculator that will guide you through calculations for a rectangle, square, or circular room, just to name a few.

But don’t be afraid to do your own measurements and calculations, especially when you’re tackling home improvement projects. You’ll get things done quicker and save on any costs that might come with having someone come in and measure for you.