Square Meters to Square Feet — Apartment Size Conversion Guide

If you are comparing apartments in London (listed in square feet) with ones in Berlin (listed in square meters), or looking at US real estate from outside the US, the unit conversion is the first obstacle. The numbers look completely different, but they describe the same physical spaces.

The Area Converter handles square meters, square feet, and other area units in one place. This article explains the conversion, gives you a reference table for typical apartment sizes, and puts the numbers in context so you know what 50 m² or 800 sq ft actually feels like.

The Core Conversion

1 square meter = 10.764 square feet

1 square foot = 0.0929 square meters

sq ft = m² × 10.764

m² = sq ft × 0.0929

For a rough mental conversion, multiply square meters by 10 and add about 8%. So 50 m² ≈ 538 sq ft. Or multiply by 11 for a quick approximation: 50 × 11 = 550 — slightly high, but useful for fast estimates.

Going the other way, divide square feet by 11 to get approximate square meters: 800 sq ft ÷ 11 ≈ 73 m².

Apartment Size Reference Table

Average Apartment Sizes by Country

Apartment sizes vary significantly by country and city, reflecting land costs, construction norms, and cultural expectations.

US apartments are noticeably larger than European ones, partly because US construction costs allow more space for comparable prices, and partly because land is cheaper outside major cities. In high-density Asian cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo, apartments are much smaller — a 25 m² studio is not unusual.

What Different Sizes Feel Like

The abstract number becomes more concrete when you map it to specific room configurations:

Under 35 m² (under 377 sq ft): A single room with a bathroom. Sleeping, cooking, and living happen in one space. Functional but not spacious. Common in expensive city centres.

35–50 m² (377–538 sq ft): A studio with a separate sleeping area, or a very small 1-bedroom. You can have distinct sleeping and living zones. Still tight for two people full-time.

50–65 m² (538–700 sq ft): A 1-bedroom flat with a separate bedroom and a small living area. Comfortable for one person, workable for a couple. Most UK city centre 1-beds fall here.

65–85 m² (700–915 sq ft): A 2-bedroom flat or a spacious 1-bedroom. Enough room for a home office or a second person permanently. This is the sweet spot for a couple in many European cities.

85–110 m² (915–1,184 sq ft): A 2–3 bedroom flat or a small house. Comfortable for a small family. Typical for US 2-bedroom apartments outside major cities.

Over 130 m² (over 1,400 sq ft): 3+ bedrooms, dedicated living and dining spaces. This is a house in most European cities; a mid-range home in the US.

Why Property Listings Use Different Units

Countries that use the metric system — most of Europe, Asia, Australia — list floor area in square meters. Countries using the imperial system — the US, UK (partially), and Canada — tend to use square feet.

The UK is a special case. UK real estate uses square feet for residential property but square meters for commercial. An estate agent might list a flat as "653 sq ft (60.7 m²)" with both figures. New build developers in the UK often use square meters in their marketing materials, even though buyers commonly think in square feet.

This means if you are apartment hunting across borders — say, comparing a London flat to one in Paris — you will routinely need to convert. The Area Converter handles the conversion quickly and also covers acres, hectares, and square yards if you encounter those.

Room Size Quick Reference

For individual rooms rather than full apartments:

These are typical Western European and North American sizes. Actual room dimensions vary widely by building era, country, and price point.