Is my basement included in my home's square footage?
Only above-grade space counts in MLS square footage. Finished basements aren’t included, so highlight them in your listing description instead.
How Is Square Footage Calculated for MLS?
This is a great question — and an important one to understand when listing your home.
The “official” square footage shown on your MLS listing is calculated based on the floor area of all levels that are above grade, excluding stairwells.
Even if your basement is fully developed, it is considered below grade and is not included in the MLS square footage total.
What Should You Do if You Have a Finished Basement?
Make sure to highlight in your home description that you have additional livable square footage below grade.
This is a great selling feature — it just won’t be reflected in the square footage line on the listing itself.
We've Got You Covered
At Bōde, we cover the cost of professional RMS-compliant measurements required to list your home on REALTOR.ca.
These measurements determine the square footage displayed on your listing and are required by industry standards —
no exceptions or manual adjustments allowed.
The good news: every listing is measured the same way, so your home is competing on a level playing field.
Still need help?
Engage with Bōdie our AI powered chatbot to troubleshoot further or get in touch with our team.
