How Do You Calculate Square Footage?

When you’re setting up a residential insurance policy, your broker will ultimately ask this question: “What is the square footage of your home?” We want to be sure we have a detailed idea of the home being insured, and you want to be sure you’re actually covered.

More often than not, this question breeds uncertainty. Let’s talk about how to calculate the square footage of your home, condo or apartment accurately so you can be confident in your answer.

Calculating Your Square Footage

  1. Start with a blueprint: sketch a rough outline of your house, labelling the rooms, hallways and other similar liveable spaces
  2. Measure and multiply: Measure each area by multiplying the length by the width (in feet), and record the square footage for each room—a tape measure is a great tool
  3. Add and conquer: Add the total square footage of each space you measured to get your home’s total internal square footage

A note: it’s okay to round your calculations! Picture a bungalow with 20 ft x 40 ft dimensions and a 5 ft x 10 ft space that juts out. You’d take away the 50ft2 measurement from the total 800ft2 to get 750ft2. Here, it’s okay to go with the 800ft2 round-up—especially if the space ultimately adds value to the home.

Is There Anything To Leave Out or Add On?

You might have questions about what counts as liveable space, or if there is anything to exclude in your calculations. Here are a few good rules of thumb to follow:

  • Liveable space usually includes space you can walk in or on—exclude areas that don’t fall within this category
  • Basements and garages, even if finished, are usually excluded as they are below-grade (underground)
  • Liveable space can differ floor-by-floor—if you live in a two-storey home, be sure to calculate each floor separately as there may be liveable space differences
  • Square footage usually extends through the sheetrock and framing to the exterior of the room’s wall—add about 6 inches per measurement to cover this

Home Additions & Renovations

Sometimes, a room is not easy to calculate due to its shape. Decks, foyers and renovations are often the culprit. In this circumstance, breaking down the area into smaller rectangles you’re comfortable with is a big help. Add the sections together, and you’ll get a more precise measurement even if the room’s a hexagon!

When a renovation results in extra square footage, like an en-suite bathroom or kitchen add-on, it’s important to update your records as well as your insurance company. Call your broker before you start so we can update your policy, and be confident that the hard work put into your reno will pay off.

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