What's the difference between a footing and a foundation?

“Foundation” is the broader term for your entire below-ground structural system supporting your building, while “footing” typically refers to a specific structural element within that system — a strip footing, for instance, is one type of foundation component.

In everyday conversation these terms are sometimes used loosely or interchangeably, but technically a footing is genuinely a component of the broader foundation system, not a separate, alternative concept.

This distinction matters less for general conversation than for precise technical documentation, where your engineer will use these terms specifically and consistently within your project’s drawings.

Related Questions, Guides & Calculators