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Ten Things You Maybe Didn't Know About the Square Foot
1. It’s everywhere in real estate
If you’ve ever looked at buying or renting property — houses, apartments, commercial spaces — you’ve seen square footage front and center. It’s the go-to way to talk about how big a space is in the U.S. and other imperial-using countries.
2. One square foot is 12 inches by 12 inches
That’s right — a square foot is a square with each side measuring one foot (12 inches). It adds up to 144 square inches total. Handy to know when you’re measuring floors or furniture space.
3. It’s used almost exclusively in the U.S. and UK
Most of the world runs on metric (square metres and such), but square feet still dominate in the United States, Canada (in some real estate), and parts of the UK. Old habits die hard!
4. Construction folks love it
Builders, contractors, and architects often use square feet to plan out floor areas, tile work, roofing, and more. It’s a practical, easy-to-visualize unit when working with everyday materials.
5. It helps price things per unit
Ever seen “$500 per square foot” for real estate? That’s a common pricing model, especially in property and renovation work. It gives a quick sense of cost per unit of area.
6. A square metre is about 10.76 square feet
So if you’re ever switching between metric and imperial systems, just remember that 1 m² = 10.76 ft². It’s a good trick if you're comparing properties internationally.
7. It’s small enough for detail, big enough for rooms
Unlike square inches (too tiny) or square yards (a bit too big), square feet strike a great balance — perfect for describing rooms, decks, patios, or walk-in closets.
8. Used in advertising space too
Billboards, signs, and even retail shelf space are sometimes measured in square feet. It’s all about how much visible real estate you're buying or renting.
9. It’s not just for flat surfaces
Square feet aren’t just for floors — you’ll also see them used for walls, ceilings, and even wallpaper or paint estimates. Anywhere there’s a surface to cover, this unit is handy.
10. You can pace it out
One of the cool things about the square foot is that it’s relatable. A square foot is about the size of a floor tile or a small doormat. You can even estimate area just by pacing around a room.