Square Feet Calculator (from Inches)
Use this calculator to convert dimensions measured in inches into square feet, perfect for estimating materials like flooring, paint, or wallpaper.
Understanding Square Feet and Inches
When planning home improvement projects, estimating material needs, or simply measuring a space, you often encounter measurements in both inches and square feet. While inches are a linear measurement, square feet represent an area – the amount of two-dimensional space a surface covers. One square foot is equivalent to a square with sides of one foot each.
Why Convert Inches to Square Feet?
Many materials, such as flooring, paint, wallpaper, and even some types of fabric, are sold or priced by the square foot. However, when you're measuring a room or an object, you might initially take measurements in inches, especially for smaller or more precise dimensions. For instance, you might measure a countertop as 72 inches long by 25 inches wide. To determine how much material you need, you'll need to convert these inch measurements into square feet.
The Conversion Factor: 144
The key to converting square inches to square feet lies in understanding the relationship between feet and inches:
- 1 foot = 12 inches
- Therefore, 1 square foot = 1 foot × 1 foot = 12 inches × 12 inches = 144 square inches.
This means that to convert an area from square inches to square feet, you simply divide the total square inches by 144.
How Our Square Feet Calculator Works
Our calculator simplifies this conversion for you. You just need to input the length and width of your area in inches. The calculator will then:
- Multiply the length by the width to get the total area in square inches.
- Divide the total square inches by 144 to convert it into square feet.
- Display the final area in square feet.
Example:
Let's say you're measuring a small patio area for new tiles. You measure its length as 180 inches and its width as 120 inches.
- Area in square inches = 180 inches × 120 inches = 21,600 square inches
- Area in square feet = 21,600 square inches / 144 = 150 square feet
So, you would need enough tiles to cover 150 square feet. Use the calculator above to quickly find the square footage for your own projects!