Area Converter – Convert sq ft, sq m, Acres, Hectares Online

Convert between any area unit with our free online area converter. Supports square meters, square feet, acres, hectares, and many more area measurement units.

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Area Unit Converter – Convert Between Any Area Measurements

Area conversions come up constantly in real life. Real estate listings switch between square feet and square meters. Land surveys use acres or hectares. Construction plans might specify square yards for concrete or square inches for tiles. This converter handles all the common area units instantly.

The math behind area conversion is straightforward but easy to mess up manually. Area units scale by the square of linear conversions – since 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, 1 square foot = 0.092903 square meters (not 0.3048). This calculator handles all the squared conversion factors correctly.

Common Area Units Explained

Square Meter (m²)

The SI unit for area. Used worldwide for real estate, construction, and science. A square meter is about 10.76 square feet – roughly the size of a small bathroom.

Square Foot (ft²)

Common in the US and UK for real estate and construction. A typical bedroom is 100-200 sq ft. One square foot equals 144 square inches.

Acre

Used for land measurement, especially in agriculture and real estate. One acre = 43,560 square feet = 4,840 square yards = 0.4047 hectares. Historically, an acre was the area a yoke of oxen could plow in one day.

Hectare (ha)

Metric land measurement equal to 10,000 square meters or about 2.47 acres. Common for farms, forests, and large properties outside the US. A hectare is a square 100 meters on each side.

Square Kilometer (km²)

Used for cities, parks, and large geographic areas. One km² = 1,000,000 m² = 100 hectares = about 0.386 square miles. Manhattan Island is about 59 km².

Square Mile (mi²)

Used for large land areas in the US and UK. One square mile = 640 acres = 2.59 km². A square mile is a square with each side measuring one mile (5,280 feet).

Conversion Examples

Example 1: Square Feet to Square Meters

Convert a 2,500 sq ft house to square meters.

1 ft² = 0.092903 m²

2,500 ft² × 0.092903 = 232.26 m²

Example 2: Acres to Hectares

A farm is 160 acres. How many hectares is that?

1 acre = 0.404686 hectares

160 acres × 0.404686 = 64.75 hectares

Example 3: Square Meters to Square Yards

Carpet is sold by the square yard. You need to cover 50 m². How many square yards?

1 m² = 1.19599 yd²

50 m² × 1.19599 = 59.80 yd²

Order 60 square yards to have a small buffer

Example 4: Hectares to Acres

A vineyard in France is 25 hectares. What's that in acres?

1 hectare = 2.47105 acres

25 hectares × 2.47105 = 61.78 acres

Example 5: Square Miles to Acres

A ranch covers 5 square miles. How many acres?

1 square mile = 640 acres

5 square miles × 640 = 3,200 acres

Quick Fact

The word "acre" comes from Old English "æcer," meaning "field." It originally referred to the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. The modern acre was standardized in the 13th century under Edward I as 4,840 square yards – exactly one furlong (220 yards) by one chain (22 yards).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many square feet are in an acre?

One acre equals exactly 43,560 square feet. This comes from the historical definition: an acre is one chain (66 feet) by one furlong (660 feet), and 66 × 660 = 43,560. A square acre would be about 208.7 feet on each side.

What's the difference between a hectare and an acre?

A hectare is larger – one hectare equals about 2.47 acres. Hectares are metric (10,000 square meters, or a 100m × 100m square). Acres are imperial (43,560 square feet). Most countries use hectares; the US, UK, and some Commonwealth nations still use acres.

How do I convert square meters to square feet?

Multiply square meters by 10.764 to get square feet. For example, 100 m² × 10.764 = 1,076.4 ft². To go the other way, divide square feet by 10.764 or multiply by 0.092903.

Why can't I just square the linear conversion?

You actually can – and should! If 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, then 1 square foot = 0.3048² = 0.092903 square meters. The mistake people make is forgetting to square the conversion factor. Linear and area conversions are related, but area uses the square of the linear ratio.

How big is a square mile in acres?

One square mile contains exactly 640 acres. This comes from the surveying system: a mile is 8 furlongs, so a square mile is 8 × 8 = 64 square furlongs. Each square furlong is 10 acres, giving 640 acres total.

What's a good size for a house lot?

Typical suburban lots range from 0.1 to 0.5 acres (4,356 to 21,780 sq ft). Urban lots might be 0.05 acres (2,178 sq ft) or smaller. Rural properties often start at 1+ acres. For reference, a standard American football field (including end zones) is about 1.32 acres.

How do I calculate area from dimensions?

For rectangles, multiply length × width. Make sure both are in the same unit first. For example, a room that's 15 feet by 12 feet has an area of 180 square feet. For circles, use π × radius². For triangles, use ½ × base × height.

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