Area converter
Convert area units between square meters, square feet, acres, hectares, and more. Metric and imperial.
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Common area units
Square meter (m²)
Definition: The square meter (symbol: m²) is the SI unit of area. It is defined as the area of a square whose sides each measure exactly one meter. One square meter equals 10,000 square centimeters or approximately 10.764 square feet.
History/origin: The square meter derives directly from the meter, which was established during the French Revolution as part of the metric system. Squaring the base unit is a natural extension used across all metric area measurements.
Current use: Square meters are the standard unit for measuring room sizes, apartments, land plots, and commercial spaces in most countries. Real estate listings throughout Europe, Asia, and much of the world use square meters as the primary area measurement.
Square foot (ft²)
Definition: A square foot (symbol: ft²) is the area of a square with sides of one foot (0.3048 m). One square foot equals exactly 0.09290304 square meters, or 144 square inches.
History/origin: The square foot evolved alongside the foot as a natural unit of area in the imperial system. It has been in use for centuries in construction, architecture, and real estate in English-speaking countries.
Current use: Square feet are primarily used in the United States and Canada for real estate, flooring, and construction. A typical US apartment might be described as 800 to 1,200 square feet.
Acre (ac)
Definition: An acre (symbol: ac) is a unit of land area equal to 4,046.8564 square meters, 43,560 square feet, or 1/640 of a square mile. It is used in the imperial and US customary systems.
History/origin: The acre was historically defined as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plough in one day: roughly a strip of land one furlong (220 yards) long by one chain (22 yards) wide. This definition dates back to medieval England.
Current use: Acres are still widely used in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries for measuring farmland, large estates, and rural properties. A typical American football field is approximately 1.32 acres.
Hectare (ha)
Definition: A hectare (symbol: ha) is a metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters, or 100 meters × 100 meters. One hectare equals 2.4711 acres and 0.01 square kilometers.
History/origin: The hectare was introduced alongside the metric system and derives from the "are" (100 m²), with "hecto-" meaning one hundred. It was formally adopted as part of the SI system in the late 18th century.
Current use: Hectares are the standard unit for measuring agricultural land, forests, parks, and national reserves in most metric countries. Land area in real estate and farming is typically quoted in hectares across Europe, South America, and Asia.
Area conversion table
| From | To | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Square meter (m²) | Square feet (ft²) | 10.7639 ft² |
| 1 Square foot (ft²) | Square meters (m²) | 0.0929 m² |
| 1 Acre (ac) | Square meters (m²) | 4046.86 m² |
| 1 Acre (ac) | Square feet (ft²) | 43,560 ft² |
| 1 Hectare (ha) | Square meters (m²) | 10,000 m² |
| 1 Hectare (ha) | Acres (ac) | 2.4711 ac |
| 1 Square kilometer (km²) | Hectares (ha) | 100 ha |
| 1 Square kilometer (km²) | Acres (ac) | 247.105 ac |
| 1 Square mile (mi²) | Acres (ac) | 640 ac |
| 1 Square mile (mi²) | Square kilometers (km²) | 2.5900 km² |
How to convert area units
Area conversions multiply a value by a fixed ratio between the two units. Since area is two-dimensional, the conversion factor between units of length must be squared.
Square meters to square feet
ft² = m² × 10.763910417
Example: 50 m² = 50 × 10.763910417 = 538.2 ft²
Acres to hectares
ha = acres × 0.40468564
Example: 10 acres = 10 × 0.40468564 = 4.047 ha
Hectares to acres
acres = hectares × 2.4710538147
Example: 5 ha = 5 × 2.4710538147 = 12.355 acres
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert square meters to square feet?
Multiply the square meter value by 10.764. For example, 50 m² = 50 × 10.764 = 538.2 ft². To go the other direction, multiply square feet by 0.0929. A 1,000 ft² apartment is approximately 92.9 m².
How many square feet are in a square meter?
One square meter equals approximately 10.764 square feet. One square foot equals approximately 0.0929 square meters. This conversion is most commonly needed when comparing property sizes between countries — US real estate listings use square feet while most of the world uses square meters.
How many acres are in a hectare?
One hectare equals 2.471 acres. One acre equals 0.4047 hectares. Hectares are the standard land area unit in most metric countries; acres are used in the US, UK, and a number of other countries. For reference, one hectare is 100 m × 100 m (10,000 m²), and one acre is approximately 4,047 m².
How do I convert square feet to square meters for a room or apartment?
Multiply the square footage by 0.0929. A 800 ft² studio is approximately 74 m². A 1,500 ft² house is approximately 139 m². A 2,000 ft² house is approximately 186 m². The converter handles this instantly — enter the value in either field and both units update simultaneously.
What is the difference between a hectare and a square kilometer?
One square kilometer equals 100 hectares, or 1,000,000 square meters. A hectare is 10,000 m² (100 m × 100 m). Square kilometers are used for large geographic areas like cities, forests, and countries; hectares are more practical for farms, parks, and land plots.
How many square feet are in an acre?
One acre equals exactly 43,560 square feet, or approximately 4,047 square meters. A standard American football field (including end zones) is about 1.32 acres. An acre is roughly the size of a 209 ft × 209 ft square.
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