How to Figure the Square Footage for Countertops

Whether for stone or hardwood, figure your countertop area.

The calculation for square footage, whether applied to countertops, walls or your yard, is one of area. If you are planning for new counters, or thinking of a new countertop, you'll need to know the square footage you need to price out materials. You can do this with tools that you have around the home. A little sketch will help resolve any odd corners of your countertop calculation. Doing your initial measurements in inches gets you the most meticulous calculation.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler or tape measure
• Pencil and paper
• Calculator

Instructions

1. Make a sketch of the countertop. Many times, countertops are not simple rectangles, but a combination of rectangles. The sketch will break the rectangles down to simpler area measurements. If the countertop is a single rectangle, skip this step.

2. Divide up the sketch into simple rectangles with straight lines. In the end, you will have a single rectangle or a series of simple rectangles.

3. Measure the length for each rectangle and note it on the drawing. Do the same for the width. Measure in inches.

4. Multiply the length measurement for each rectangle by the width. Note the result. Repeat for each of the rectangles. For instance, if the first one is 23 inches by 17 inches, the area is 391 square inches.

5. Add all the areas together. Divide the total by 144. For example, if, in addition to the 391 square inch rectangle, you had one of 200 and one of 403, the total is 994 square inches. This equals 6.9 square feet.

6. Repeat for each countertop you are calculating.

7. Add the total countertop areas together for the final square footage.

References

• Home Depot Canada: Countertop Calculator
• University of Missouri: Math, Area