1. What is House Exterior Square Footage?

House exterior square footage is the total area of the outside walls of a building. It's used for estimating materials needed for siding, painting, or other exterior work.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Perimeter — Total distance around the house (feet and inches converted to decimal feet)
• Height — Height of the walls (feet and inches converted to decimal feet)
• Openings — Total area of doors and windows that don't require covering (square feet)

Explanation: The calculation first converts all measurements to feet, then multiplies perimeter by height to get total wall area, and finally subtracts any openings.

3. Importance of Exterior Square Footage

Details: Accurate exterior square footage is essential for material estimation, cost calculation, and project planning for exterior renovations or new construction.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure the perimeter of your house in feet and inches. Measure wall height from foundation to eaves. Include all window and door areas in the openings field.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I measure perimeter accurately?
A: Walk around the house with a measuring tape, or use a laser measure for greater accuracy. Add all side lengths together.

Q2: Should I include gable ends in the calculation?
A: For triangular gable ends, calculate their area separately (base × height ÷ 2) and add to the total.

Q3: What counts as an opening?
A: Any area not needing material coverage - typically windows and doors. Measure width × height of each opening.

Q4: How to account for multiple stories?
A: Calculate each floor separately (with its own height) and sum the results, or use average height × total perimeter.

Q5: Is this accurate for houses with complex shapes?
A: For complex shapes, break the house into rectangular sections, calculate each separately, then sum the results.