Area Converter
Convert between square feet, meters, acres, hectares, and other area units
Area Conversion Formulas
Understanding Area Measurements
Area measures the size of a two-dimensional surface. Whether you're buying land, measuring a room for flooring, or comparing property sizes across countries, understanding area conversions is essential. Different regions use different units—acres in the US, hectares internationally, and square meters for smaller spaces.
The metric system uses square meters (m²) as the base unit, scaling up to hectares (10,000 m²) and square kilometers for land. The imperial system uses square feet for rooms, acres for properties, and square miles for regions. Real estate, construction, agriculture, and urban planning all rely on accurate area conversions.
This converter handles all common area units, making it easy to compare international property listings, convert architectural plans, or calculate material needs for any project.
Common Area Units
Square Feet (ft²)
Standard for US real estate. Average US home is 2,300 ft². 1 ft² = 0.0929 m².
Square Meters (m²)
Metric standard for buildings. Average European apartment is 80-100 m². 1 m² = 10.764 ft².
Acres
US land measurement. Originally the area one man could plow in a day. 1 acre = 43,560 ft².
Hectares (ha)
International land unit. 1 ha = 10,000 m² = 2.471 acres. Used for farms and parks.
Area Conversion Reference
| From | To | Multiply By | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Feet | Square Meters | 0.0929 | 1000 ft² = 92.9 m² |
| Square Meters | Square Feet | 10.764 | 100 m² = 1076 ft² |
| Acres | Hectares | 0.4047 | 5 acres = 2.02 ha |
| Hectares | Acres | 2.471 | 10 ha = 24.7 acres |
| Square Miles | Square Km | 2.59 | 1 mi² = 2.59 km² |
| Square Yards | Square Meters | 0.836 | 100 yd² = 83.6 m² |
Practical Applications
Real Estate
Compare international listings. A 150 m² European apartment = 1,615 ft². A 0.25-acre US lot = 0.1 hectares.
Flooring & Paint
Calculate coverage needs. Paint typically covers 350-400 ft² (32-37 m²) per gallon.
Landscaping
Sod, mulch, and fertilizer are sold by coverage area. Know your lawn size in both units.
Quick Estimates
1 acre ≈ a football field (minus end zones). 1 hectare ≈ 2.5 football fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is an acre in visual terms?
An acre is about 90% of a football field, or roughly 208 feet × 208 feet square. It's the area of about 16 tennis courts, or 75% of a soccer field.
What's the difference between hectares and acres?
Hectares are metric (1 ha = 10,000 m²), while acres are imperial. 1 hectare = 2.471 acres, so hectares are about 2.5× larger than acres. Hectares are used internationally; acres primarily in the US and UK.
How do I calculate the area of an irregular shape?
Break it into rectangles and triangles, calculate each, and add them together. For complex shapes, use the grid method: overlay a grid and count squares. For land, surveyors use GPS and specialized software.
Why do real estate listings use different units in different countries?
Historical measurement systems persist. The US uses square feet and acres (imperial), most other countries use square meters and hectares (metric). Always convert to compare properties internationally.
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