Square Foot to Square Yard Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square feet to square yards with our free online area converter.
Square Foot to Square Yard Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Foot).
- The converted value in Square Yard 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 Yard
Converting Square Foot to Square Yard involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Foot = 0.111111 square yardsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square feet: 10 × 0.111111 = 1.111111 square yards
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 Yard?
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 Yard (symbol: yd² or sq yd) is a unit of area used in the British Imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is defined as the area of a square whose sides each measure exactly one yard in length.
Key relationships within the imperial/US customary system:
- 1 yd² = 1 yard × 1 yard
- 1 yard = 3 feet (ft)
- 1 yard = 36 inches (in)
- Therefore, 1 yd² = (3 ft)² = 9 square feet (ft²)
- 1 yd² = (36 in)² = 1,296 square inches (in²)
- 1 acre (ac) = 4,840 yd²
- 1 square mile (mi²) = 3,097,600 yd²
In terms of metric units (based on the international yard defined as exactly 0.9144 meters):
- 1 yd² = (0.9144 m)² = 0.83612736 square meters (m²) exactly.
- 1 yd² ≈ 8361.27 square centimeters (cm²)
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 Yard belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Square Foot and Square Yard
- 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 Yard): The square yard is derived from the yard, a unit of length used in England since at least the early medieval period. The origin of the yard is uncertain, with theories linking it to the length of a stride, an arrow, or the distance from the nose to the fingertip of an outstretched arm (similar to an ell). Its length varied regionally until standardization efforts.
- Standardization: The yard was standardized in England over centuries. Formal definitions were established, and physical standard yard bars were created. The Weights and Measures Act of 1824 established the imperial yard.
- International Yard (1959): The United States and Commonwealth countries agreed to define the international yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. This standardized the yard and, consequently, the square yard, providing a precise conversion to metric units (0.83612736 m²).
- Traditional Use: Historically, the square yard was widely used in the UK and its colonies (later the Commonwealth) and the US for measuring textiles, carpets, and medium-sized land areas before the increasing adoption of square feet (for smaller areas) and acres (for larger areas) or metric units.
Common Uses for square feet and square yards
Explore the typical applications for both Square Foot (imperial/US) and Square Yard (imperial/US) 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 yards
While less common than square feet or square meters in many modern applications, the square yard remains relevant in specific contexts:
- Flooring and Textiles (US, UK): Still frequently used for pricing and selling carpet, vinyl flooring, artificial turf, and fabrics, especially in retail settings.
- Landscaping and Gardening (US, UK): Used for calculating quantities of materials like sod, topsoil, mulch, or fertilizer needed for medium-sized lawns and garden areas.
- Waste Management (US): Dumpster sizes and waste volumes are sometimes estimated or priced in cubic yards, implicitly relating to area coverage.
- Construction: Occasionally used for estimating surface areas for paving, concrete slabs, or painting, though square feet or square meters are more common.
- Sports Fields: The dimensions of fields for sports like American football and Canadian football are defined in yards, so area calculations naturally use square yards.
- Historical Context: Understanding square yards is necessary when dealing with older land records, building plans, or textile measurements.
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 Yard (yd²)
How many square feet are in one square yard?
There are exactly 9 square feet (ft²) in one square yard. This is because 1 yard = 3 feet, so 1 yd² = 3 ft × 3 ft = 9 ft².
How do you convert square yards to square meters?
To convert square yards to square meters, multiply the area in square yards by 0.83612736.
- Conversion formula: Area [m²] = Area [yd²] × 0.83612736
- Example: 100 yd² = 100 × 0.83612736 m² ≈ 83.61 m²
Is the square yard commonly used for house floor plans?
No, in the US and UK, house floor plans and room sizes are almost universally measured in square feet (ft²). In metric countries, square meters (m²) are used.
Is the square yard an SI unit?
No, the square yard is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the British Imperial and US customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for area is the square meter (m²).
Why is carpet often sold by the square yard?
This is largely a historical convention from when the yard was a more common unit for measuring length and area, particularly for textiles. Even though underlying measurements might be done in feet or inches, the final price is often quoted per square yard in the US and UK.
Conversion Table: Square Foot to Square Yard
| Square Foot (ft²) | Square Yard (yd²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.111 |
| 5 | 0.556 |
| 10 | 1.111 |
| 25 | 2.778 |
| 50 | 5.556 |
| 100 | 11.111 |
| 500 | 55.556 |
| 1,000 | 111.111 |