Square Meter Calculator — Free Online Area Unit Converter

How to Use the Square Meter Calculator

1. Enter your area value: Type the numeric area measurement you want to convert. For example, enter 100 to convert 100 square meters, or 1500 to convert 1,500 square feet. The calculator accepts both whole numbers and decimals for precise measurements.
2. Select the source unit: Use the From Unit dropdown to choose the area unit you are converting from. Available options include square meters, square feet, square yards, square inches, acres, hectares, square kilometers, and square miles. The default is set to square meters.
3. View all area conversions: The results panel instantly displays your value converted to all eight area units. Square meters is highlighted as the primary result, with all other units shown below. This eliminates the need for multiple separate conversions when comparing property sizes across different measurement systems.
4. Check the summary: The summary box at the bottom provides a quick reference showing your measurement in square meters, square feet, and acres, which are the three most commonly compared area units in international real estate and land transactions.

Results update in real time as you type. Change the source unit to convert from any area unit to all others simultaneously.

Area Conversion Formulas

Variables Explained

• Square Meters (m2): The SI derived unit of area equal to the area of a square with sides one meter long. Square meters are the global standard for measuring floor space, land area, and property size in most countries outside the United States. One square meter equals approximately 10.764 square feet.
• Square Feet (ft2): An imperial unit of area used primarily in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for real estate listings, floor plans, and interior design. One square foot equals approximately 0.0929 square meters. A typical US home ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet.
• Acres: A traditional unit of land area equal to 43,560 square feet or approximately 4,047 square meters. Acres are widely used in the US, UK, and other countries for measuring agricultural land, residential lots, and large properties. One acre is roughly the size of a football field without the end zones.
• Hectares (ha): A metric unit equal to 10,000 square meters or approximately 2.471 acres. Hectares are the standard unit for large land areas globally, used in agriculture, forestry, and urban planning. One hectare is a square 100 meters on each side.
• Square Yards (yd2): An imperial unit equal to 9 square feet or approximately 0.836 square meters. Square yards are sometimes used for carpet and flooring measurements, as well as in cricket pitch specifications. One square yard is a 3-foot by 3-foot area.

Step-by-Step Example

Suppose you are looking at a 75 square meter apartment and want to understand its size in US measurements:

1. Start with the value: 75 square meters
2. Convert to square feet: 75 x 10.7639 = 807.29 sq ft
3. Convert to square yards: 75 x 1.19599 = 89.70 sq yd
4. Convert to acres: 75 / 4,046.86 = 0.01853 acres
5. Convert to hectares: 75 / 10,000 = 0.0075 hectares

A 75 square meter apartment is approximately 807 square feet, which is a comfortable one-bedroom or small two-bedroom apartment in US terms. This is roughly equivalent to 89.7 square yards of carpet if you were flooring the entire space.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Sarah Compares International Real Estate

Sarah is considering buying a vacation apartment in Spain, where listings show sizes in square meters. She finds a 120 square meter apartment in Barcelona priced at 450,000 euros. To compare with US properties she is familiar with, she converts:

• 120 square meters x 10.764 = 1,291.7 square feet
• Price per square meter: 450,000 / 120 = 3,750 euros/m2
• Price per square foot: 450,000 / 1,291.7 = 348.3 euros/sqft

Sarah now knows the apartment is comparable to a spacious two-bedroom condo in the US. At 1,292 square feet, it is larger than the average European apartment and the per-square-foot price helps her compare directly with similar properties in Miami or San Diego.

Example 2: James Calculates Garden Mulch Coverage

James measured his garden beds and found they total 45 square meters. The mulch at his local garden center is sold by the bag and covers 15 square feet per bag at a 3-inch depth. He needs to know how many bags to buy:

• 45 square meters x 10.764 = 484.4 square feet total
• Bags needed: 484.4 / 15 = 32.3 bags
• Round up: 33 bags of mulch

James buys 33 bags of mulch to cover his 45 square meter garden area. By converting to square feet first, he can use the coverage specification printed on the bag without any additional math. He also calculates that buying in bulk (by the cubic yard) might be cheaper for this amount and uses the area to determine the cubic yards needed.

Example 3: Chen Converts Agricultural Land Measurements

Chen is reviewing a farming operation report that lists field sizes in hectares, but he needs to present the data to investors who think in acres. The farm has four fields: 25 hectares, 18 hectares, 32 hectares, and 15 hectares:

• Field 1: 25 hectares = 250,000 m2 = 61.78 acres
• Field 2: 18 hectares = 180,000 m2 = 44.48 acres
• Field 3: 32 hectares = 320,000 m2 = 79.07 acres
• Field 4: 15 hectares = 150,000 m2 = 37.07 acres
• Total: 90 hectares = 222.39 acres

Chen presents the 90-hectare farm as approximately 222 acres to his US-based investors. He also converts the crop yield data from tonnes per hectare to bushels per acre for their familiar reference framework, using the square meter calculator as the foundation for all area comparisons.

Example 4: Monica Estimates Office Space Needs

Monica is expanding her company and needs office space for 30 employees. The building management company lists available suites in square meters: Suite A at 280 m2, Suite B at 350 m2, and Suite C at 200 m2. She knows the general guideline is about 100 to 150 square feet per employee in an open office layout:

• Suite A: 280 m2 x 10.764 = 3,013.9 sqft (100.5 sqft per employee)
• Suite B: 350 m2 x 10.764 = 3,767.4 sqft (125.6 sqft per employee)
• Suite C: 200 m2 x 10.764 = 2,152.8 sqft (71.8 sqft per employee)
• Minimum needed: 30 x 100 = 3,000 sqft = 278.7 m2

Monica eliminates Suite C as too small and chooses between Suite A (tight but functional) and Suite B (comfortable with room for growth). She selects Suite B at 350 square meters, giving each employee about 126 square feet of space with room for meeting areas and a small kitchen.

Area Conversion Reference Table

Key conversions: 1 m2 = 10.764 sqft = 1.196 sqyd. 1 acre = 4,046.86 m2. 1 hectare = 10,000 m2.

Tips and Complete Guide

Understanding Area Units in Real Estate

When buying or renting property internationally, understanding area unit conversions is essential to avoid expensive mistakes. In the United States, property is measured in square feet for homes and acres for land. In Europe, Australia, and most of Asia, square meters are standard. In the United Kingdom, square feet are still used for some property listings alongside square meters. A useful rule of thumb is that square meters multiplied by 10.8 gives a close approximation in square feet. When comparing properties across countries, always convert to the same unit before evaluating price per unit area. A property priced at $500 per square foot may seem expensive until you realize it is equivalent to $5,382 per square meter, which may be average for certain urban markets globally.

Calculating Area from Linear Measurements

To calculate area in square meters from linear measurements, ensure all dimensions are in meters first. For a rectangular room measured as 12 feet by 15 feet, convert to meters (3.658 m x 4.572 m) and multiply to get 16.72 square meters. Alternatively, calculate in square feet first (180 sqft) and then convert to square meters (180 x 0.0929 = 16.72 sqm). For irregular shapes, divide the space into rectangles and triangles, calculate each area separately, and sum them. For circles, use the formula pi times radius squared, with the radius in meters. Always measure to the inside face of walls for usable floor area.

Land Area Measurements for Different Purposes

Different professions and contexts use different area units. Architects and interior designers typically work in square meters or square feet for building floor areas. Farmers and agricultural planners use hectares or acres for field sizes. City planners and developers may use square kilometers or square miles for zoning and development areas. Carpet and flooring retailers often quote in square yards or square meters. Knowing when each unit is appropriate helps you communicate clearly with professionals. When requesting quotes for materials like paint, tile, or carpet, always confirm which area unit the provider uses to avoid ordering the wrong quantity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Squaring the linear conversion factor incorrectly: To convert square feet to square meters, you must use 0.0929 (which is 0.3048 squared), not 0.3048. Using the linear conversion factor instead of the area factor gives results that are off by a factor of 3.28, leading to dramatically wrong estimates for flooring, painting, or land purchases.
• Confusing gross and net area: Property listings may report gross area (including walls, hallways, and common areas) or net area (usable floor space only). Gross area can be 15% to 30% larger than net area. Always confirm which measurement is being used before comparing properties or calculating material needs.
• Mixing up acres and hectares: One hectare is approximately 2.47 acres, not the other way around. Confusing the two results in an error of about 2.5 times, which can mean the difference between a manageable farm and an enormous estate. One acre is about 0.405 hectares.
• Not accounting for waste in material calculations: When buying flooring, tile, or other materials based on area calculations, always add 5% to 15% extra for cutting waste, pattern matching, and future repairs. A 100 square meter floor requires about 110 to 115 square meters of material.
• Ignoring the difference between area and perimeter: Fencing is measured by perimeter (linear meters or feet), not area. A 1-acre square lot has a perimeter of about 253 meters, but a 1-acre rectangular lot might have a perimeter of 300 meters or more depending on its proportions.

Frequently Asked Questions