Square Foot to Square Meter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square feet to square meters with our free online area converter.
Square Foot to Square Meter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Foot).
- The converted value in Square Meter 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 Foot to Square Meter
Converting Square Foot to Square Meter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Foot = 0.092903 square metersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square feet: 10 × 0.092903 = 0.92903 square meters
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 Foot and a Square Meter?
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.
The Square Meter (symbol: m² or sq m) is the fundamental unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one meter (m) in length, the SI base unit for length.
Mathematically: 1 m² = 1 meter × 1 meter
It forms the basis for other metric area units using SI prefixes:
- 1 square kilometer (km²) = 1,000,000 m²
- 1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 m²
- 1 square centimeter (cm²) = 0.0001 m² (or 1 m² = 10,000 cm²)
- 1 square millimeter (mm²) = 0.000001 m² (or 1 m² = 1,000,000 mm²)
In terms of imperial/US customary units:
- 1 m² ≈ 10.764 square feet (ft²)
- 1 m² ≈ 1.196 square yards (yd²)
- 1 m² ≈ 0.000247 acres (ac)
Note: The Square Foot is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Square Meter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Square Foot and Square Meter
- 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.
- Origin (The Meter): The square meter is derived directly from the meter. The meter was first defined during the French Revolution in the 1790s, initially as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator along the meridian passing through Paris.
- Metric System Development: As the metric system was developed and refined, the square meter emerged as the logical and coherent unit for area, based on the fundamental unit of length.
- Treaty of the Metre (1875): This international treaty established the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), and the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) to maintain and standardize the metric system, solidifying the role of the meter and its derived units.
- SI Establishment (1960): The 11th CGPM formally established the International System of Units (SI), designating the meter as one of the seven base units and confirming the square meter as the derived unit for area.
- Redefinition of the Meter (1983, 2019): The definition of the meter itself has been refined over time for greater precision, now being based on the speed of light, a fundamental constant of nature. This precision underpins the definition of the square meter.
Common Uses for square feet and square meters
Explore the typical applications for both Square Foot (imperial/US) and Square Meter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
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.
Common Uses for square meters
The square meter is the globally recognized standard for area and is used extensively across countless fields:
- Real Estate and Construction: The primary unit for specifying floor area of buildings, room sizes, and land parcel sizes (especially smaller plots) in nearly all countries using the metric system.
- Science and Engineering: Ubiquitous in physics (e.g., pressure (Pascal = N/m²), intensity), chemistry (surface area calculations), material science, and all engineering disciplines for surface area, cross-sectional area, and related calculations.
- Manufacturing: Measuring the area of sheet materials like textiles, paper, metal sheeting, plastics, and glass.
- Retail (Flooring, Fabric, etc.): Used for selling materials priced by area, such as carpets, tiles, vinyl flooring, and fabrics.
- Agriculture and Forestry: While hectares are common for larger land areas, square meters can be used for smaller plots, experimental fields, or precise measurements.
- Gardening and Landscaping: Calculating areas for lawns, garden beds, patios, or amounts of materials needed (e.g., topsoil, mulch).
- Environmental Monitoring: Measuring sampling areas or specific zones.
- Mapping and Surveying: Used for precise area calculations on maps and plans, especially at local scales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions 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).
About Square Meter (m²)
Is the square meter the base SI unit for area?
Yes, the square meter (m²) is the SI derived unit for area. It is derived from the SI base unit of length, the meter (m).
How big is a square meter visually?
It's the area of a square with sides exactly one meter long. You can visualize it as roughly the area covered by:
- A very large bath towel.
- A small dining table for two people.
- About half the surface of a standard single door.
How do you convert square meters to square feet?
To convert square meters to square feet, multiply the area in square meters by approximately 10.764.
- Conversion formula: Area [ft²] ≈ Area [m²] × 10.764
- Example: 50 m² ≈ 50 × 10.764 ft² ≈ 538.2 ft²
Are square meters used in the United States?
While the US primarily uses the US customary system (square feet, square yards, acres) for everyday purposes like real estate and construction, the square meter is widely used in the US in:
- Science and Engineering: It's the standard in these fields.
- Manufacturing: Especially for companies involved in international trade.
- Government: Many government specifications and projects use metric units.
- Medicine: Used in various medical calculations.
What's the difference between a meter and a square meter?
A meter (m) is a unit of length or distance (one dimension). A square meter (m²) is a unit of area (two dimensions), representing the space enclosed within a square that has one-meter sides.
Conversion Table: Square Foot to Square Meter
| Square Foot (ft²) | Square Meter (m²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.093 |
| 5 | 0.465 |
| 10 | 0.929 |
| 25 | 2.323 |
| 50 | 4.645 |
| 100 | 9.29 |
| 500 | 46.452 |
| 1,000 | 92.903 |