Square Meters to Square Feet Converter

Understanding Square Meters and Square Feet

Square meters (m²) and square feet (ft²) are two of the most commonly used units for measuring area around the world, each belonging to different measurement systems:

Square Meter (m²)

Part of the metric system used in most countries worldwide
Defined as the area of a square with sides measuring exactly one meter
The official international symbol is "m²", established by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in 1879
Commonly used in architecture, construction, and real estate in most parts of the world

Square Foot (ft²)

Part of the imperial system used primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other countries
Defined as the area of a square with sides measuring exactly one foot (12 inches)
Equals 144 square inches
Commonly used in real estate, interior design, and construction in countries that use the imperial system

Historical Context

The square meter finds its origin in the metric system developed in France during the late 18th century as part of a more standardized, decimal-based approach to measurement. The square foot, on the other hand, is derived from the older English measurement system dating back several centuries.

Global Usage

Today, most countries in the world use square meters as their standard unit of area measurement. Notable exceptions include:

The United States, which primarily uses square feet
The United Kingdom, which uses both systems but traditionally favored square feet for property measurements
Canada, which commonly uses both systems

Quick Reference Conversion Chart

Square Meters (m²)	Square Feet (ft²)
1 m²	10.764 ft²
5 m²	53.82 ft²
10 m²	107.64 ft²
25 m²	269.10 ft²
50 m²	538.20 ft²
100 m²	1,076.39 ft²
500 m²	5,381.96 ft²
1,000 m²	10,763.91 ft²

Did You Know?

The world's largest building by floor area is Dubai International Airport, with approximately 1,320,000 square meters (14,200,000 square feet) of floor space
The smallest apartment in London, England measures only 1.39 square meters (15 square feet)
The average size of a house in the United States is approximately 2,687 square feet, more than double the average size of a house in Japan (1,168 square feet)

Practical Applications

Real Estate

Property listings in different countries use different units. In Europe, a 120 m² apartment would be listed as approximately 1,292 ft² in the US.

Construction

Building materials like flooring, ceiling tiles, and paint are often sold with coverage calculated in either square meters or square feet, depending on the region.

Interior Design

Designers working on international projects need to convert between units when calculating furniture placement, room capacity, and material requirements.

Legal Documentation

Property documents might need both measurements for international transactions, ensuring all parties understand the exact dimensions involved.

Why Convert Between Square Meters and Square Feet?

Converting between square meters and square feet is essential for various real-world applications:

International real estate transactions
Architecture and construction projects spanning different regions
Understanding property sizes when traveling or relocating internationally
Comparing product dimensions from different countries
Academic and scientific work that spans multiple measurement systems

Guide

How to Convert Square Meters to Square Feet

To convert square meters to square feet, follow these steps:

1
Enter the number of square meters you want to convert
2
Click the Convert button
3
View the result in square feet

Conversion Formula:

1 square meter = 10.7639 square feet

To convert square meters to square feet, multiply the number of square meters by 10.7639

Examples

Common Examples

Example 1 1 Square Meter

1 m² = 10.7639 ft²

Example 2 5 Square Meters

5 m² = 53.8195 ft²

Example 3 10 Square Meters

10 m² = 107.639 ft²

Example 4 100 Square Meters

100 m² = 1,076.39 ft²