Home Price Per Square Foot Calculator

Calculate home price per square foot and compare to national averages.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: CFPB — Owning a Home

$
sq ft

Price per Sq Ft

$175.00

Market Level

Average

National Benchmarks

Your Price/Sq Ft$175.00
National Average$150–$200
Coastal/Urban$300+
Midwest/Rural$100–$150

Use the Home Price Per Square Foot Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Reducing a home's cost to a single standardized number, price per square foot, makes property values far easier to read. The measure supports sharper buying and selling decisions because it lets you line up properties side by side regardless of their headline prices. As of early 2026, the national average price per square foot for homes in the US is projected to land near $265, continuing the housing market's upward climb.

The method behind it is direct: total home price divided by total square footage yields the price per square foot. Simple as that is, it delivers a strong comparative read on whether a property is priced competitively for its market. For the cleanest comparison, work from 'livable square footage', which usually leaves out unfinished basements, garages, and outdoor areas.

Averages, though, hide wide variation by location, property type, and condition, so national figures alone make a shaky benchmark, and local market data gives you a far more accurate read. Pricing a freshly renovated home against an older, unrenovated one on square footage alone is a classic misstep, since it ignores the real differences in value between them.

Example: Comparing a 2026 Home in a Growing Market

  1. 1 A home is listed for sale at $530,000 with a total heated living area of 2,000 square feet. You want to see how this compares to the national average.
  2. 2 To calculate the price per square foot, you divide the home's price by its square footage: $530,000 / 2,000 sq ft = $265 per square foot.
  3. 3 The home's price per square foot is $265.
  4. 4 In this scenario, the home's price per square foot of $265 aligns perfectly with the projected national average for early 2026. This suggests the property is priced competitively on a square footage basis, assuming it's in good condition and in a desirable location. However, further local market research would be essential to confirm its true value.

Source: CFPB — Owning a Home · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate price per square foot?
Divide the home price by the total living square footage. A $400,000 home with 2,000 sq ft costs $200 per square foot. This metric helps compare homes of different sizes in the same area.
What is the average price per square foot in the US?
The national average is approximately $150-$200 per square foot, but this varies enormously. Rural areas may be $80-$120/sq ft while expensive metros like San Francisco or New York City exceed $800-$1,500/sq ft.
Is price per square foot a good way to compare homes?
It is useful for comparing similar homes in the same neighborhood. However, it has limitations: smaller homes tend to have higher price per sq ft, and it does not account for lot size, finishes, location within a neighborhood, or home condition.

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