Square Meters to Square Feet Converter (m² to ft²)
Enter an area in square meters to get the exact equivalent in square feet, or flip the direction and enter square feet to get square meters. The converter uses the precise SI factor of 10.76391 ft² per m² and shows you the full calculation step by step. A reference chart of common room and property sizes is included below.
The exact conversion factor: why 10.76391?
One meter is exactly 3.280839895 feet by the international agreement of 1959, which defined the inch as exactly 25.4 millimeters. Squaring that ratio gives 1 m² = (3.280839895)² ft² = 10.76391041670972 ft². Most everyday calculations use the rounded value 10.7639, which is accurate to six significant figures and introduces an error of less than 0.0001 percent across the sizes you are likely to encounter in real estate or construction. The reverse factor is 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m² exactly, since the meter-to-foot ratio is itself exact under the SI system.
How to convert m² to ft² by hand
Multiply the square-meter value by 10.7639. For a rough estimate in your head, multiply by 11 and subtract about 2.2 percent of the result. Example: 50 m² times 10.7639 is 538.2 ft². The 11-times shortcut gives 550, and subtracting 2.2 percent (12.1) gives 537.9, which is close enough for most practical purposes. For the reverse, from square feet to square meters, divide by 10.7639 or equivalently multiply by 0.09290304.
Square meters vs. square feet: which countries use which?
Square meters (m²) are the standard unit of area in all metric countries, covering most of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia. Square feet (ft²) remain the dominant unit in the United States, the United Kingdom for residential property, Canada (partly), and some South and Southeast Asian property markets where US-style practices persist. International property listings and architectural drawings frequently need both. The UK is notable for using square feet in estate-agent listings and square meters in planning and building-regulation documents for the same building.
Practical uses: property, flooring, and tiling
Area conversions arise most often in three practical scenarios. First, comparing property listings: a 75 m² apartment listed in Europe and a 807 ft² apartment in the US are the same size (75 times 10.76 = 807). Second, buying flooring or tiles: if a supplier quotes a price per square foot but your room measurements are in meters, multiply the m² area by 10.76 to find the ft² quantity, then add 10-15 percent for waste and cutting. Third, paint coverage: UK tins state coverage in m² while some US brands use ft², so converting lets you buy the right amount whichever unit the tin uses.
Common area sizes in m² and ft²
| Space | Approx m² | Approx ft² | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parking space | 14 | 150 | Typical single bay |
| Single bedroom | 10-14 | 108-150 | Standard UK or US bedroom |
| Double bedroom | 14-20 | 150-215 | Comfortable double |
| Living room | 20-35 | 215-377 | Typical family living room |
| Studio apartment | 25-40 | 269-430 | Common in cities |
| 1-bed apartment | 45-60 | 484-646 | Urban 1-bedroom flat |
| 2-bed apartment | 65-90 | 700-969 | Mid-size city apartment |
| 3-bed house | 90-130 | 969-1,400 | Standard family home |
| 4-bed house | 130-200 | 1,400-2,153 | Larger family home |
| Tennis court | 260 | 2,799 | Full singles court |
| Basketball court | 420 | 4,520 | Full NBA court |
| American football field | 5,350 | 57,600 | Excluding end zones |
Approximate areas for everyday spaces. Actual sizes vary by country and property type.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in one square meter?
Exactly 10.76391041670972 square feet. In everyday use, 10.7639 ft² per m² is accurate enough for any real estate, construction, or flooring application. This comes from the international definition of the meter: 1 m = 3.280839895 ft, and squaring that gives the area factor.
How do I convert square meters to square feet without a calculator?
Multiply the number of square meters by 10.76. A fast mental approximation is to multiply by 11 and then subtract about 2.2 percent. For example, 20 m² times 11 is 220, minus 2.2 percent (4.8) gives about 215 ft², which is close to the exact answer of 215.28 ft².
How do I convert square feet to square meters?
Divide the square-foot value by 10.7639, or multiply by 0.09290304. For example, 1,000 ft² divided by 10.7639 is approximately 92.9 m². A quick mental check is to divide by 11 and add about 2.2 percent.
Is a square meter the same as a meter squared?
Yes. A square meter (m²) is the area of a square whose sides are each one meter long. "Meter squared" and "square meter" mean exactly the same thing and are written the same way (m²). The same is true for square feet (ft²): one square foot is the area of a square with one-foot sides.
Why do property listings sometimes show different areas for the same property?
Quoted areas often differ because of what is included rather than conversion errors. Gross internal area includes all internal space between walls; net internal area excludes structural elements and services. Some markets quote usable area only, others include balconies or parking. Always check the measurement standard used when comparing listings, especially across countries.
What is 100 square meters in square feet?
100 m² equals 1,076.39 ft². A 100 m² property is a standard two-bedroom apartment in many European cities. In US terms, 1,076 ft² is a comfortable one-to-two bedroom apartment.
What is 500 square feet in square meters?
500 ft² is approximately 46.45 m² (500 divided by 10.7639). In many cities, 46 m² is a compact one-bedroom or large studio apartment.