How to Convert Square Feet to Square Meters: Formula, Real Estate & Room Planning
Learn how to convert square feet to square meters with the exact formula, real estate examples, and practical tips for flooring and room planning.
February 20, 2026
Area conversions between square feet and square meters are essential in many professional and personal contexts. Whether you are buying property abroad, planning a renovation, or comparing room sizes listed in different units, understanding this conversion saves time and prevents costly miscalculations.
The Square Feet to Square Meters Formula
The conversion is based on the linear relationship between feet and meters, squared. One square foot equals 0.092903 square meters. To convert any area from square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.092903.
Formula: square meters = square feet x 0.092903
Alternatively, you can divide the square footage by 10.764 to get square meters. For example, 500 sq ft x 0.092903 = 46.45 sq m.
Quick Reference Conversion Table
- 100 sq ft = 9.29 sq m
- 200 sq ft = 18.58 sq m
- 500 sq ft = 46.45 sq m
- 750 sq ft = 69.68 sq m
- 1,000 sq ft = 92.90 sq m
- 1,500 sq ft = 139.35 sq m
- 2,000 sq ft = 185.81 sq m
- 3,000 sq ft = 278.71 sq m
Practical Use Cases
Real Estate and Property
This is arguably the most important application of sq ft to sq m conversion. In the United States, property listings use square feet, while most of Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world use square meters. A 1,200 sq ft apartment in New York would be listed as approximately 111.5 sq m in a European market. When comparing property prices per unit of area, this conversion is critical for making informed decisions.
Flooring and Renovation
When purchasing flooring materials, tiles, or carpet, the material may be sold in square meters while your room measurements are in square feet, or vice versa. A room measuring 12 ft by 15 ft (180 sq ft) needs approximately 16.72 sq m of flooring material. Adding a 10% waste factor, you would order about 18.4 sq m.
Interior Design and Room Planning
Interior designers working with international clients must fluently convert between both units. Standard room size guidelines differ by country: a bedroom considered adequate at 120 sq ft in the US is approximately 11.15 sq m, which aligns with minimum room size requirements in many European countries. Understanding both measurements helps ensure compliance with local building codes.
Area Measurement Differences Globally
Beyond square feet and square meters, different regions use additional area units. In Japan, room sizes are often expressed in tatami mats (approximately 1.65 sq m each). In many Asian countries, the ping (approximately 3.3 sq m) is common. In South Asia, units like marla and kanal are used for land. Understanding sq ft to sq m conversion provides a solid foundation for navigating these additional regional units.
Reverse Conversion: Square Meters to Square Feet
To convert square meters back to square feet, multiply by 10.764. For example, 50 sq m x 10.764 = 538.2 sq ft.
Tips for Quick Mental Math
For a rough estimate, remember that 1 square meter is approximately 10.8 square feet, or conversely, 10 square feet is roughly 1 square meter. To quickly convert square feet to square meters, simply divide by 10 for a ballpark figure. A 2,000 sq ft home is roughly 200 sq m (actual: 185.8 sq m). While this shortcut overestimates slightly, it provides a useful reference point for quick comparisons.