Square Feet to Square Meters Calculator
Convert square feet (sqft) to square meters (m²) with the exact conversion factor 1 sq ft = 0.09290304 m².
Last updated:Conversion Formula
Conversion factors follow NIST Special Publication 811 (US National Institute of Standards and Technology).
1 square foot = 0.09290304 square meters
This is defined from the exact relation 1 ft = 0.3048 m (International yard and pound agreement, 1959).
So: 0.3048 × 0.3048 = 0.09290304 m² per sq ft.
Quick Reference Table
| Square Feet | Square Meters |
|---|---|
| 1 sq ft | 0.0929 m² |
| 10 sq ft | 0.929 m² |
| 100 sq ft | 9.29 m² |
| 500 sq ft | 46.45 m² |
| 1,000 sq ft | 92.90 m² |
| 1,500 sq ft | 139.35 m² |
| 2,000 sq ft | 185.81 m² |
| 2,500 sq ft | 232.26 m² |
| 5,000 sq ft | 464.52 m² |
| 10,000 sq ft | 929.03 m² |
Why the Conversion Matters
Most of the world uses the metric system, while the United States lists real estate, floor plans, and construction in square feet. If you're:
- Reading a US listing from outside the US
- Ordering European flooring or tile that is sold per m²
- Completing an international shipping form
- Comparing apartment sizes between countries
The international-foot conversion factor is exact, but measurements and displayed results are not necessarily exact. This tool rounds its output. Keep the original measurement for further calculations, and round only the final result to the precision your project needs. Converting units also does not make two property listings comparable if one includes walls or shared space and the other does not.
Convert the Area and the Price per Unit Together
Suppose the same 120 sq ft floor is priced at $4 per sq ft. Changing the area unit must not change the total price. This example uses the same currency and the same measured surface; it excludes taxes, installation and delivery.
| Quantity | Calculation | Converted value |
|---|---|---|
| Floor area | 120 × 0.09290304 | 11.1483648 m² |
| Price per area | 4 ÷ 0.09290304 | Approximately $43.0556417 per m² |
| Total price | (120 × 0.09290304) × (4 ÷ 0.09290304) | $480, unchanged |
The area number gets smaller because square meters are larger units; the price per unit gets larger. In symbols, with f = 0.09290304, use area in m² = area in ft² × f and price per m² = price per ft² ÷ f. For the reverse price conversion, multiply the price per m² by f.
Do not reuse rounded displays as exact invoice inputs. Multiplying 11.15 × $43.06 = $480.119 rounds to $480.12, not $480.00. The exact total above uses the unrounded expressions. This is a worked example, not a price-input feature in the converter.
From Floor Area to Whole Cartons
A 12 ft × 12 ft room needs flooring sold in cartons labeled 1.8 m² per carton. Assume a 10% extra allowance for this example, and that cartons must be bought whole.
- Net floor:
12 × 12 = 144 sq ft, or144 × 0.09290304 = 13.37803776 m². - Allowance-inclusive requirement:
144 × 1.10 = 158.4 sq ft, or158.4 × 0.09290304 = 14.715841536 m². - Divide by labeled coverage:
14.715841536 ÷ 1.8 = 8.17546752cartons. - Round up to 9 cartons, providing
9 × 1.8 = 16.2 m². Eight cartons provide only 14.4 m², below the allowance-inclusive target.
The room is still 144 sq ft, approximately 13.38 m². The 16.2 m² is purchased coverage, not a new room size. Do not add the 10% a second time. Use the product's actual coverage and installer guidance for cuts, pattern and layout; 10% is not a universal recommendation. The long decimal values demonstrate calculation order, not measurement precision.
For an area-based ordering estimate, see the flooring calculator; check carton rounding and the product label before buying.
Precision and Unit Sources
NIST SP 811, Appendix B documents the international foot in section B.6 and rounding converted measurements in B.7.2. The factor is exact; it does not make an estimated room measurement exact. The examples above are arithmetic derived from that factor, not NIST purchasing recommendations.
This converter assumes international feet. For historic records explicitly labeled U.S. survey feet, check the stated unit instead of silently treating it as an international foot; see NIST's U.S. survey foot guidance.
Reverse Conversion
Going the other way? Use our Square Meters to Square Feet Calculator — or simply type in the right-hand field above.
FAQ
Is 1 square foot the same as 1 square meter?
No. One square meter is much larger — about 10.76 square feet. A square foot is 12 in × 12 in, while a square meter is 100 cm × 100 cm.
How do I convert sqft to m² manually?
Multiply by 0.09290304. For a rough estimate, divide the sq ft value by 10.76 (or by 11 for quick mental math).
Why is the factor 0.09290304?
Because 1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly, and area scales by the square of the linear factor: 0.3048² = 0.09290304.
How many m² is a 1,000 sq ft apartment?
About 92.9 m². A 2,000 sq ft house is roughly 185.8 m², and a 500 sq ft studio is about 46.5 m².
Why does the US still use sq ft instead of m²?
The US kept US customary units for real estate, construction, and most consumer contexts, even though scientific and medical fields use SI units. Most other countries use m² for interior floor area.