Square footage of an area is the measurement of a living space calculated in feet, which affects the appraisal value or the market value of the house and the property taxes you pay.
Are Bathrooms Included in Square Footage? Bathrooms are included in the square footage of the total house measurement if they are inside the main house dimensions. It also includes the vanity, cabinets, bathtub, sinks, and toilet area in the total square foot calculation. However, a bathroom in an unfinished basement or free-standing garage is not included in the square footage measurement.
There are no standards set for measuring the square footage of the place, as different states have different ways of calculating this value.
However, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) sets some standards to measure the square footage of a place that helps professionals and house owners while selling or buying a property.
What does square footage include?
Any space in the house that has finished walls, floor, heating system, and ceiling is included in the square footage of the house.
However, the unfinished spaces, like the garage, basement, and attics, are not included in the square ft. Bathrooms are an essential part of the house that meets all requirements, such as the floor, walls, ceiling, and heating system, which causes it to be in the square footage of the house.
The closets in the bathroom are also included in this measurement if they meet the requirements. The area under the bathtub, toilet, and sink is also a part of this calculation because they need proper space to install.
It is better to add a vanity, cabinets, and the area where you put any furniture items when measuring the square foot of this place because they are a part of the total floor space.
The finished spaces that meet all the essential requirements to be added to the total square foot of the house are included in this calculation, while the unfinished and non-living spaces are not a part of this measurement.
Does the square footage of a bathroom add value to the property?
The square footage of this place adds value to the property, as the large bathrooms have more area and can accommodate all necessary and luxurious plumbing fixtures, such as a bathtub and a separate shower area.
A well-constructed, designed, and large bathroom can add approximately 20-40% value to the overall resale value of the house if it includes a bathtub and all standard building requirements.
Some bathrooms have less square footage, but the interior design of this place makes it worth adding value to the property.
Therefore, square footage does matter, but the space adjustment of this place to accommodate all essential fixtures creates more market value.
The reason is that people opt for a well-decorated and luxurious interior design despite the square footage of this place. A good interior designer can add all the necessary things in an average size bathroom and make the property more attractive and appealing for the customers.
Square footage is the first thing that counts when deciding the property’s market value because the more square feet, the higher the rates. For example, square footage in California has rates around $180-$200 per square foot, and the rates can vary with the residential area where the house is situated.
How can you calculate the square footage of the bathroom?
You can calculate the square footage by a simple technique, and you need a pencil, a measuring tape, a calculator, and a notepad to write the values separately.
Stretch the measuring tape and measure the length and width of the floor in inches, and convert these values into feet using your calculator. Multiply the length (feet) by the width (feet) to get the total area of this place.
You can use another method, such as calculating the length and width in inches and multiple the values in inches. Divide the calculated value by 144 to get the value in square feet, and include the vanity and furniture area in your measurements.
For example, I have measured the length of the floor, which is 12 feet, and the width is also 12 feet because the bathroom is square shaped. Therefore, I multiplied the values in feet, such as 12×12 = 144 square feet.
You can use the alternative method, such as covert the length and width in feet to inches, which becomes 144×144 = 20,736, and dividing this value by 144. You will get the same value of square feet that I calculated using another method above, which is 20,736/144 = 144 square feet.
You can add the floor area a bathtub covers into the total calculated value to get an estimated size. A standard-size bathtub takes approximately 14-16 feet of floor space; however, a large bathtub accommodates larger floor space.
Do not forget to add the toilet area to your measurements. You can calculate the wall and ceiling area the same way as calculated above.
Are half bathrooms in the garage included in the square footage of the house?
The half bathrooms in the garage are not included in the square footage of the house because they do not meet the standard requirements for the measurement according to the appraisals.
Another reason for not counting the half bathroom in a free-standing garage in total measurements is that it is not a part of the main house, as constructed separately outside the main house dimensions.
Some states do not include the finished bathroom in an unfinished basement in the calculation because it is separate from the main house area. However, the finished basement is included in the square footage, and a finished bathroom in this area will count in the measurements.
It also depends on the country and the state you are living in, as different states have different techniques and rules to calculate the square feet of the house.
Is the square footage of the bathroom important?
The square footage is essential as it can increase the resale value of the house, and you can tell the customers about the correct measurements and livable area.
An accurate measurement can help when renovating the bathroom or selling the property, or you can consult a professional to measure the correct square footage.
It is better to know the exact square footage of the bathroom or the house when planning to reconstruct or renovate this place.
You can design the bathroom according to the space available and select the plumbing fixtures that can set and perform well in the spacious place.
You can install the bathtub or a separate shower area if you know the total square footage and select the bathtub size according to the available space.
An interior designer can guide you well about the correct placement and size of the plumbing fixtures and furniture items to add to the measured size.
What is the square footage for an average full bathroom?
There are different sizes of bathrooms, as some are half, quarter, and others are full or master size. The average square footage of a full bathroom for large houses is 40 to 100 square feet, and 35-40 square feet for an average size bathroom.
It can accommodate a sink, half or full bathtub, toilet, and shower, and the size of the plumbing fixtures depends on the bathroom size. For example, a 35-40 square feet bathroom can encompass all these plumbing fixtures and include them in a full bathroom design.
The smallest square footage for this place is approximately 15-17 square feet, and a medium one can range from 50 to 70 square feet.
A large bathroom can have an average size of 100 to 120 square feet, while a master bathroom can have 120-200 square feet of space to have a luxurious and spa-like environment.
A 6×10 measurement is considered an average or standard size for a full bathroom, and it can vary with the type of shower or bathtub area you have in this place, as a walk-in shower may take up more space.
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