Square Meter (m²) - Unit Information & Conversion

Quick Answer

What is a square meter? A square meter (m²) is the area of a square with sides exactly 1 meter long. It equals 10.764 square feet or about the size of a small table. Use our area converter to convert m² to sq ft, acres, hectares, and more instantly.

Quick Comparison Table

Square Meters	Square Feet	Common Size	Convert Now
1 m²	10.76 ft²	Bath towel	Convert →
10 m²	107.6 ft²	Small bedroom	Convert →
20 m²	215 ft²	Studio apartment	Convert →
50 m²	538 ft²	1-bedroom apartment	Convert →
100 m²	1,076 ft²	2-bedroom apartment	Convert →
200 m²	2,153 ft²	Large house	Convert →

Need a different conversion? Try our area converter for all area units.

Definition

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) - Convert m² to ft²
• 1 m² ≈ 1.196 square yards (yd²) - Convert m² to yd²
• 1 m² ≈ 0.000247 acres (ac) - Convert m² to acres

History

• 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.

Real-World Examples

Property Sizes in Square Meters

Residential:

• Studio apartment: 20-30 m² (215-323 ft²)
• 1-bedroom apartment: 40-60 m² (431-646 ft²)
• 2-bedroom apartment: 70-90 m² (753-969 ft²)
• 3-bedroom house: 120-150 m² (1,292-1,615 ft²)
• Large family home: 200-300 m² (2,153-3,229 ft²)

Commercial:

• Small retail shop: 50-100 m² (538-1,076 ft²)
• Restaurant: 150-300 m² (1,615-3,229 ft²)
• Office space per employee: 10-15 m² (108-161 ft²)
• Warehouse unit: 500-2,000 m² (5,382-21,528 ft²)

Use our square meter to square foot converter for instant property size conversions.

Room Sizes Guide

Room Type	Typical Size (m²)	Typical Size (ft²)	Convert
Bedroom (small)	10-12 m²	108-129 ft²	Convert
Bedroom (master)	15-20 m²	161-215 ft²	Convert
Living room	20-30 m²	215-323 ft²	Convert
Kitchen	8-12 m²	86-129 ft²	Convert
Bathroom	4-6 m²	43-65 ft²	Convert
Garage (single)	15-20 m²	161-215 ft²	Convert
Garage (double)	30-40 m²	323-431 ft²	Convert

Pro Tip: When house hunting, use our area converter to compare properties listed in different units.

Common Uses

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.

Common Conversions:

• Square meters to square feet (most common for US listings)
• Square meters to acres (for land plots)
• Square meters to hectares (for larger properties)

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.

Material Calculations:

• Paint coverage: Typically 10-12 m² per liter
• Flooring materials: Sold per m²
• Wallpaper: Rolls cover specific m²

Retail (Flooring, Fabric, etc.)

Used for selling materials priced by area, such as carpets, tiles, vinyl flooring, and fabrics.

Cost Examples (varies by location/material):

• Hardwood flooring: $50-150 per m²
• Carpet: $20-80 per m²
• Ceramic tiles: $30-100 per m²
• Paint: Covers 10-12 m² per liter

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).

Garden Planning:

• Lawn seed: 25-50g per m²
• Mulch: 5-10cm depth needs 0.05-0.1 m³ per m²
• Topsoil: 50 liters per m² for 5cm depth

Environmental Monitoring

Measuring sampling areas or specific zones.

Mapping and Surveying

Used for precise area calculations on maps and plans, especially at local scales.

Common Conversion Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake #1: Forgetting to Square the Conversion Factor

• Wrong: 1 meter = 3.28 feet, so 1 m² = 3.28 ft²
• Correct: 1 m² = (3.28)² = 10.76 ft²
• Fix: Always use our m² to ft² converter

❌ Mistake #2: Confusing m² with m³

• m² = Area (2D) - floor space, land area
• m³ = Volume (3D) - room capacity, concrete needed
• Example: 100 m² floor ≠ 100 m³ room (need height too!)

❌ Mistake #3: Mixing Up Hectares and Square Meters

• 1 hectare = 10,000 m² (not 1,000 m²!)
• Example: 2 hectares = 20,000 m², not 2,000 m²
• Convert: Use our hectare converter