Area Converter
Enter a value in any field and all other units update instantly.
Understanding Area Units
Area measures the two-dimensional extent of a surface, expressed in square units. In the metric system, the square meter is the base SI unit of area, with smaller units like square centimeters for detailed work and larger units like hectares and square kilometers for land measurement. One hectare equals 10,000 square meters, the area of a square 100 meters on each side, and is the standard unit for agricultural and urban land measurement worldwide.
In the imperial system, area is measured in square inches, square feet, square yards, and acres. The acre is the primary unit for land area in the US and UK, equal to 43,560 square feet. Historically, an acre was defined as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in a day. There are 640 acres in a square mile. Square feet is the standard unit for measuring interior floor space in the US and some other countries.
Converting between area units requires squaring the linear conversion factor. For example, since one foot equals 0.3048 meters, one square foot equals 0.3048 squared, or 0.0929 square meters. This squaring effect means that small differences in linear measurements produce larger differences in area calculations. This converter handles all nine common area units, making it invaluable for real estate, construction, agriculture, and land management.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet are in an acre?
One acre equals exactly 43,560 square feet. An acre is roughly the size of a football field without the end zones (which is about 48,000 sq ft). To convert acres to square meters, multiply by 4,046.86.
What is the difference between an acre and a hectare?
A hectare equals 10,000 square meters (a 100m x 100m square), while an acre equals approximately 4,046.86 square meters. One hectare is approximately 2.471 acres. Hectares are the standard metric unit for land area, while acres are used in the US, UK, and some Commonwealth countries.
How do I convert square meters to square feet?
To convert square meters to square feet, multiply by 10.7639. For example, 100 sq m equals approximately 1,076.39 sq ft. To convert the other way, multiply square feet by 0.0929. A quick estimate: 1 sq m is roughly 10.75 sq ft.
How many acres are in a square mile?
There are 640 acres in one square mile, and 259 hectares in one square mile. One square kilometer contains approximately 247.1 acres or 100 hectares.