How to Calculate the Gross Area of a Ceiling

Determine the length and width of the ceiling in a rectangular room by taking measurements from corner to corner. Multiply the length by the width to obtain the gross ceiling area. For example, a room 15 feet long and 10 feet wide has a gross ceiling area of 150 square feet -- 15 times 10 = 150.

Divide irregular shaped ceilings into more than one rectangle. If necessary divide the ceiling into other regular shapes too, such as triangles and circles. Calculating the area of a regular shape is much easier than attempting to calculate that of an irregular shape.
Determine the area of each section of the ceiling and then combine them to obtain the gross ceiling area. For example, a ceiling in a rectangular room containing a chimney breast, positioned centrally on one wall, may be divided into three rectangles; the main ceiling and two smaller rectangular ceiling areas on either side of the chimney breast.

Find the area of triangle with the formula: area = (width by length) / 2 and of a circle with the formula: area = pi by radius squared. For example, a semi-circular ceiling area above a window bay with a radius of 5 feet has an area of 39.27 square feet -- 3.1415 ( 5^2) = 78.54, and half of 78.54 is 39.27.