How to Measure for Square Foot of an Area

Here’s the simple way to measure the area that you want worked on:

Start by dividing the area to be worked into squares, rectangles, and triangles, (as in the diagram above)

• • • • Area A is a square, with 12-foot sides.
      • Area B is a rectangle, with 18×20-foot dimensions.
      • Area C is a triangle, with 12- and 18-foot sides forming a right angle. (Remember: a right angle is 90 degrees!)2

Figure the area of each shape.

• • • • Area A is 144 square feet, (12 times 12).
      • Area B is 360 square feet, (18 times 20).
      • Area C is 108 square feet, (18 times 12, divided by 2).3

Add the square footage of all areas to get 612 square feet, (144 + 360 + 108)

HINT: Add 5 to 10 percent, to account for the odd shaped areas that fall outside of the perfect  squares, rectangles, and triangles.

           In the example above, you would add about 60 square feet! 672 (612 + 60).