Convert Area
Convert area measurements between different units quickly and accurately
Area Conversion Calculator
Popular Area Conversions
Quickly convert between the most commonly used area units.
Understanding Area Measurements
Area measurement is fundamental in construction, real estate, and land management. The square meter (m²) is the base unit of area in the International System of Units (SI), while square feet (ft²) and acres are commonly used in the imperial system. Understanding area conversions is essential for property valuation, construction planning, and agricultural management.
Area Conversion Questions
Everything you need to know about area measurements and conversions
What's the difference between metric and imperial area units?
Metric area units (square meters, hectares, square kilometers) are based on powers of 10, making conversions straightforward. Imperial units (square feet, acres, square miles) have more complex relationships. For example, 1 square meter = 10.764 square feet, and 1 hectare = 2.471 acres.
How do I convert between square feet and square meters?
To convert square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.092903. For square meters to square feet, multiply by 10.764. For example: 100 square feet = 100 × 0.092903 = 9.29 square meters. Conversely, 50 square meters = 50 × 10.764 = 538.2 square feet.
What is a hectare and how does it compare to an acre?
A hectare is a metric unit equal to 10,000 square meters or 2.471 acres. It's commonly used for measuring large areas like farmland or parks. An acre (4,047 square meters) is an imperial unit traditionally used in agriculture and real estate in countries like the US and UK.
How do I calculate the area of irregular shapes?
For irregular shapes, break them into simpler geometric shapes (rectangles, triangles, circles) and calculate each area separately, then sum them up. For very irregular shapes, you can use grid counting, coordinate geometry, or specialized software. Our converter helps you work with the units once you have the measurements.
What's the relationship between linear and area measurements?
Area is always the square of linear measurements. If you double a linear dimension, the area increases by 4 times (2²). For example, a 2×2 meter square has 4 m² area, but a 4×4 meter square has 16 m² area. This is why area units are expressed as 'square' units.
How accurate should area measurements be for different purposes?
Accuracy depends on the application. For real estate, measurements to the nearest square foot or square meter are usually sufficient. For scientific work or precision manufacturing, you might need much higher precision. Construction typically requires accuracy to the nearest square foot, while surveying might need even greater precision.
What's the difference between area and surface area?
Area typically refers to the two-dimensional space within a flat shape's boundaries. Surface area refers to the total area of all surfaces of a three-dimensional object. For example, a cube has 6 faces, so its surface area is 6 times the area of one face. Our area converter works with 2D measurements.
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