How to Measure your home's square footage

If you're selling your home, you'll need to know its square footage. Why pay a professional when you can measure it yourself?

You Will Need

* Measuring tape

* Paper

* A pencil

Step 1: Measure exterior

Measure the exterior of the home at ground level, beginning and ending at the same corner. Include chimneys, windows, and rooms only if they're at ground level, and measure to the nearest inch.

Only measure finished, enclosed areas, heated by the home's primary heating system and suitable for year-round use.

Step 2: Multiply width by length

Multiply the width by the length to get your home's square footage. If your home has two floors equal in size, multiply the first level square footage by two.

Step 3: Measure from the inside

Measure multiple-story homes from the inside when levels are different sizes or cannot be measured from the outside.

Step 4: Add five inches to depth and width

Include the thickness of the walls in the measurement. Add five inches to the width and depth for each outside and inside wall.

Measure from the centerlines of the common walls.

Step 5: Measure finished floor areas

Measure finished floor areas inside the home. Include stairs on each level they serve.

Step 6: Multiply length by width

Multiply the length by the width of the second floor measurements and add it to the square footage of the first floor to get your home's square footage. Repeat for additional floors.

Fact: The Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, North Carolina, has 250 rooms and is the largest private residence in the country.