Square Kilometer to Square Foot Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square kilometers to square feet with our free online area converter.
Square Kilometer to Square Foot Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Kilometer).
- 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 Kilometer to Square Foot
Converting Square Kilometer to Square Foot involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Kilometer = 10763910 square feetExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square kilometers: 10 × 10763910 = 107639100 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 Kilometer and a Square Foot?
The Square Kilometer (symbol: km² or sq km) is a multiple of the square meter (m²), the base unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one kilometer (km) in length.
Key relationships:
- 1 km² = 1 kilometer × 1 kilometer
- 1 km = 1,000 meters (m)
- Therefore, 1 km² = (1,000 m) × (1,000 m) = 1,000,000 square meters (m²)
- 1 km² = 100 hectares (ha) (since 1 hectare = 10,000 m²)
In terms of imperial/US customary units:
- 1 km² ≈ 0.3861 square miles (mi²)
- 1 km² ≈ 247.1 acres (ac)
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 Kilometer 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 Kilometer and Square Foot
- Origin: The square kilometer is derived directly from the kilometer, a unit of length introduced as part of the metric system, which was developed in France during the late 18th century.
- Metric System Adoption: The metric system, including the meter and its multiples like the kilometer, was created to provide a standardized, decimal-based system of measurement. As nations began adopting the metric system throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the square kilometer naturally became the standard unit for expressing large geographical areas.
- SI Standard: The International System of Units (SI), formally established in 1960, confirmed the square meter (m²) as the base unit of area. The square kilometer is a widely accepted and commonly used multiple of this base unit, consistent with SI prefixes.
- Global Usage: Today, the square kilometer is the predominant unit used worldwide for measuring the land area of countries, large administrative regions, bodies of water, and other significant geographical features.
- 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 kilometers and square feet
Explore the typical applications for both Square Kilometer (metric) and Square Foot (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for square kilometers
The square kilometer is almost exclusively used for measuring large-scale areas:
- Geography and Cartography: The standard unit for stating the land or surface area of countries, continents, large islands, administrative divisions (states, provinces), and major cities.
- Demography: Essential for calculating population density, typically expressed as inhabitants per square kilometer (people/km²).
- Environmental Science: Measuring the extent of large ecosystems (forests, deserts, wetlands), national parks, conservation areas, watersheds, ice sheets, or the area impacted by large-scale environmental events (e.g., oil spills, deforestation).
- Urban Planning and Land Management: Quantifying large zones, districts, or total city area in regional planning.
- Geology and Planetary Science: Measuring the surface area of large geological formations or the surface areas of planets, moons, and asteroids.
- Military and Logistics: Defining large operational areas or zones.
It is too large for measuring individual properties, farms (hectares or acres are preferred), or room sizes (square meters or square feet are used).
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 Kilometer (km²)
How many square meters are in one square kilometer?
There are exactly 1,000,000 square meters (m²) in one square kilometer. This is calculated as 1,000 meters × 1,000 meters.
How many hectares are in one square kilometer?
There are exactly 100 hectares (ha) in one square kilometer. (1 km² = 1,000,000 m² and 1 ha = 10,000 m²).
How do you convert square kilometers to square miles?
To convert square kilometers to square miles, multiply the area in square kilometers by approximately 0.386102.
- Conversion formula: Area [mi²] ≈ Area [km²] × 0.386102
- Example: 100 km² ≈ 100 × 0.386102 mi² ≈ 38.61 mi²
Conversely, to convert square miles to square kilometers, multiply by approximately 2.58999.
- 1 mi² ≈ 2.59 km²
Is the square kilometer an official SI unit?
Strictly speaking, the official SI derived unit for area is the square meter (m²). However, the square kilometer (km²) is formed by combining an SI prefix (kilo-) with the SI base unit (meter) raised to the power of two, making it a standard and fully accepted multiple within the metric system and for use alongside SI units.
What is the difference between a kilometer and a square kilometer?
A kilometer (km) is a unit of length or distance (one dimension). A square kilometer (km²) is a unit of area (two dimensions), representing a square with sides of one kilometer each.
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 Kilometer to Square Foot
| Square Kilometer (km²) | Square Foot (ft²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10,763,910.417 |
| 5 | 53,819,552.084 |
| 10 | 107,639,104.167 |
| 25 | 269,097,760.418 |
| 50 | 538,195,520.836 |
| 100 | 1,076,391,041.671 |
| 500 | 5,381,955,208.355 |
| 1,000 | 10,763,910,416.71 |