How to calculate square footage {backsplash}

Dad, “how do you figure out square footage?” I am going to confess, prior to installing our removable kitchen backsplash, I was not sure how many tiles I needed and how to calculate square footage was making my brain hurt.  Would you believe me if I told you that I had my painters tape out and was mapping it out on the wall and trying to determine how much tile I needed? Oh yes, my dad came home from lunch one afternoon to find me taping off our backsplash in the kitchen. Needless to say, I learned fairly quickly how to calculate square footage.

How to calculate square footage {backsplash}

I knew I was in trouble when the tile guy said, “how many square feet do you have?” Umm, I’ll call you right back on that.

How to figure square foot

How to figure square footage isn’t difficult as long as you know this tip.

Measure length x width (in inches) and take that total number and divide it by 144. That gives you the square footage of your area.

In my case, this particular wall was 13 feet (156″)  in length and 1 foot (12 inches) in width for a total of  1872 inches (156×12). Divide total inches 1872 by 144 (total square inches in a foot) = 13 (square feet). Math was not my strong suit in school so that little o’l “144” threw me off! ha. My dad said, “all that money I spent on college and you can’t remember how many square inches in a foot?”. Nope, I think I skipped that day. I am happy to say, I know how to determine square footage now.

UPDATE: This kitchen has been completely gutted and renovated. Click to See the new DIY Kitchen Renovation 

Woman’s Day 

UPDATE: This kitchen has been fully gutted, walls torn down and an additional 400 square feet added. See new DIY kitchen renovation reveal (click link) or click image below to see the amazing new kitchen.

We updated this kitchen two times, once where we painted the old cabinets and then a big overhaul, tearing down a wall, adding new kitchen cabinets and an island. Here is a peek below at the new island. You can see the entire new DIY kitchen reveal here.

How to calculate square footage

If you are anything like me, math makes my brain hurt and that’s why I hang my pictures and shelves with painters tape. Be sure to check out that painters tape post if you struggle with measurements. ha.  How to calculate square footage really isn’t that difficult once you do it a couple times. Hopefully for those of you with simple math brains like me, this helps you move forward with your backsplash project and how to calculate square footage.