Square Centimeter to Square Foot Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square centimeters to square feet with our free online area converter.
Square Centimeter to Square Foot Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Centimeter).
- The converted value in Square Foot will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Area category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Square Centimeter to Square Foot
Converting Square Centimeter to Square Foot involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Centimeter = 0.00107639 square feetExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square centimeters: 10 × 0.00107639 = 0.0107639 square feet
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Square Centimeter and a Square Foot?
The square centimeter (symbol: cm² or sometimes sq cm) is a unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one centimeter in length.
One square centimeter is equal to:
- 1/10,000 of a square meter (m²)
- 100 square millimeters (mm²)
- Approximately 0.155 square inches (in²)
It is a derived SI unit, formed by squaring the SI base unit of length, the meter (via the centimeter).
The square foot (plural: square feet; symbol: ft², sq ft, or SF) is an imperial and US customary unit of area. It is defined as the area of a square with sides measuring exactly one foot (0.3048 meters) in length.
One square foot is equal to:
- 144 square inches (in²)
- 1/9 of a square yard (yd²)
- 0.09290304 square meters (m²) (exactly, based on the international foot definition)
- 929.0304 square centimeters (cm²)
It is widely used for measuring room dimensions, house sizes, and smaller land areas in countries using the imperial or US customary systems.
Note: The Square Centimeter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Square Foot belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Square Centimeter and Square Foot
- Metric System Origins: The concept of the square centimeter naturally arose with the establishment of the metric system during the late 18th century in France. As the centimeter (one-hundredth of a meter) was defined as a convenient subunit of length, the square centimeter became the corresponding unit for small areas.
- SI Adoption: With the formalization of the International System of Units (SI) in the mid-20th century, the square meter (m²) was established as the coherent derived unit for area. The square centimeter (cm²), as a direct subdivision (1 cm² = 10⁻⁴ m²), is an accepted SI unit commonly used for measuring smaller areas where the square meter would be impractically large.
- Roots in the Foot: The square foot naturally derives from the foot, a unit of length used since antiquity. The length of the foot varied significantly across different cultures and historical periods, often based on anatomical averages or royal decrees.
- English Standardization: In England, the foot (and thus the square foot) underwent various standardizations. Its use became deeply ingrained in land surveying, architecture, and trade.
- International Foot (1959): To resolve slight discrepancies between the US customary foot and the imperial foot, the "international yard and pound agreement" of 1959 defined the international yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. This implicitly defined the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. Consequently, the international square foot is exactly 0.09290304 square meters.
- Persistence: Despite widespread global metrication, the square foot remains the standard unit for many applications, particularly in real estate and construction, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and several other nations influenced by British or American standards.
Common Uses for square centimeters and square feet
Explore the typical applications for both Square Centimeter (metric) and Square Foot (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for square centimeters
The square centimeter is frequently used for measuring relatively small surface areas across various fields:
- Science: Measuring the surface area of small biological samples (like leaves or petri dishes), cross-sectional areas in physics and materials science, and quantifying reaction surfaces in chemistry.
- Medical Imaging: Commonly used to report the area of skin lesions, wounds, organ cross-sections, or regions of interest in MRI, CT, or ultrasound scans.
- Education: A fundamental unit in teaching geometry, area calculation, and understanding metric conversions in schools.
- Manufacturing & Design: Specifying the area of small components, electronic parts (like integrated circuits), adhesive patches, or surface coating requirements.
- Photography: Sometimes used informally to refer to the approximate size of smaller image sensors.
- Retail & Labeling: Used on packaging to indicate the size of small items like stickers, patches, or fabric samples.
Common Uses for square feet
The square foot is a ubiquitous unit of area in specific sectors and regions:
- Real Estate (US, Canada, UK, etc.): The primary unit for specifying the area of residential homes, apartments, office spaces, and commercial properties in listings, appraisals, and architectural drawings.
- Construction & Architecture: Used universally in these regions for floor plans, material estimation (flooring, drywall, roofing), and building design.
- Home Improvement: Standard measurement for purchasing materials like tiles, carpet, paint coverage, and wallpaper.
- HVAC Calculations: Used to determine heating and cooling requirements based on room or building area.
- Gardening & Landscaping: Measuring smaller plots, garden beds, patios, or deck areas.
- Rental Space: Often used for pricing storage units or exhibition spaces.
- Art & Signage: Describing the area of canvases, prints, or signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Square Centimeter (cm²)
How small is a square centimeter visually?
One square centimeter is the area of a square 1 cm by 1 cm. This is roughly:
- The size of the nail on an adult human index finger.
- Slightly smaller than a standard US postage stamp.
- About the size of one face of a standard six-sided die.
How many square millimeters (mm²) are in a square centimeter (cm²)?
There are exactly 100 square millimeters (mm²) in one square centimeter (cm²). This is because 1 cm = 10 mm, so 1 cm² = (10 mm) × (10 mm) = 100 mm².
How many square centimeters (cm²) are in a square meter (m²)?
There are exactly 10,000 square centimeters (cm²) in one square meter (m²). This is because 1 m = 100 cm, so 1 m² = (100 cm) × (100 cm) = 10,000 cm².
How do you convert square centimeters (cm²) to square inches (in²)?
To convert square centimeters to square inches, multiply the value in cm² by approximately 0.155. For example, 10 cm² is roughly 1.55 in². Conversely, 1 square inch is approximately 6.4516 square centimeters.
Is the square centimeter (cm²) an SI unit?
Yes, the square centimeter (cm²) is a derived unit of area within the International System of Units (SI). While the coherent SI unit for area is the square meter (m²), the cm² (equal to 10⁻⁴ m²) is formed using an accepted SI prefix (centi-) and is widely used for convenience when measuring smaller areas.
When is cm² used instead of m²?
Square centimeters (cm²) are preferred when measuring areas significantly smaller than one square meter, where using m² would result in very small decimal numbers (e.g., 0.005 m²). It offers a more convenient scale for objects like small electronic components, biological samples, or details in medical images.
About Square Foot (ft²)
How big is a square foot visually?
One square foot is the area of a square measuring 1 foot (12 inches or 30.48 cm) on each side. For comparison:
- It's the typical size of a large ceramic floor tile (12"x12").
- It's slightly larger than a standard sheet of US letter paper (8.5"x11" = 93.5 in²).
- A large hardcover notebook might be close to this area.
How many square inches (in²) are in a square foot (ft²)?
There are exactly 144 square inches (in²) in one square foot (ft²). This is because 1 foot = 12 inches, so 1 ft² = (12 inches) × (12 inches) = 144 in².
How many square feet (ft²) are in a square yard (yd²)?
There are exactly 9 square feet (ft²) in one square yard (yd²). This is because 1 yard = 3 feet, so 1 yd² = (3 feet) × (3 feet) = 9 ft².
How do you convert square feet (ft²) to square meters (m²)?
To convert square feet to square meters, multiply the area in square feet by 0.09290304. For a quick approximation, you can divide the number of square feet by 10.764. For example, 100 ft² is exactly 9.290304 m².
How many square feet (ft²) are in an acre (ac)?
There are exactly 43,560 square feet (ft²) in one acre (ac).
Is the square foot (ft²) an SI unit?
No, the square foot is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is a unit within the imperial system and US customary units. The corresponding SI unit for area is the square meter (m²).
Conversion Table: Square Centimeter to Square Foot
| Square Centimeter (cm²) | Square Foot (ft²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.011 |
| 25 | 0.027 |
| 50 | 0.054 |
| 100 | 0.108 |
| 500 | 0.538 |
| 1,000 | 1.076 |