Building Cost Per Square Foot Calculator

Work out building cost per square foot instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Building Cost Per Square Foot Calculator

Cost per square foot is the standard benchmark for comparing building projects because it normalises out size. Converting to cost per square metre multiplies by 10.764, and cost per floor is useful when the site is constrained and the decision is whether to add a storey rather than spread out.

Formula

Unit cost

Cost per ft² = total cost / built-up area; per m² = per ft² x 10.764

Worked example

With the default values below, Building Cost Per Square Foot Calculator returns Cost per square foot of $1,500.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Total construction costminimum 0.01: 4,500,000
Built-up areaminimum 0.1 ft²: 3,000 ft²
Number of floorsminimum 1: 3

Results

Cost per square foot: $1,500.00
Cost per square metre: $16,145.85
Cost per floor: $1,500,000.00
Built-up area in square metres: 278.71 m²

Step by step

1Values used
2Unit cost
3Cost per square foot= 1,500.00
4Cost per square metre= 16,145.85
5Cost per floor= 1,500,000.00
6Built-up area in square metres= 278.71 m²

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Building Cost Per Square Foot figure worked out?

Cost per ft² = total cost / built-up area; per m² = per ft² x 10.764. Cost per square foot is the standard benchmark for comparing building projects because it normalises out size.

Which area should be used?

Be explicit and consistent: gross internal, built-up or super built-up areas can differ by 25 percent, which changes the benchmark far more than any real difference in build quality.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 3 inputs: Total construction cost, Built-up area, Number of floors. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.