Square Meters to Square Feet Converter

One square metre is 10.76 square feet — the length factor squared, which is where most people go wrong.

Conversion table

Area	In square feet
1	10.7639 ft²
2	21.5278 ft²
3	32.2917 ft²
4	43.0557 ft²
5	53.8196 ft²
10	107.6392 ft²
15	161.4587 ft²
20	215.2783 ft²
25	269.0979 ft²
30	322.9175 ft²
40	430.5566 ft²
50	538.1958 ft²
60	645.8349 ft²
70	753.4741 ft²
75	807.2936 ft²

📐 Areas worth knowing

1 m²10.7639 ft²
1 ft²0.092903 m²
50 m²538 ft²
100 m²1,076 ft²

Getting area conversions right

Never use 3.28 for area. That is the factor for length; area needs it squared, which is 10.7639. Using the wrong one is off by a factor of three.
For a quick estimate, multiply square metres by 10 and add 8%. An 80 m² flat is about 860 ft².
Going the other way, divide square feet by 10 and take off 7%. A 1,500 ft² house is about 139 m².
The same rule applies to volume: cubic metres to cubic feet is the length factor cubed, 35.31.

Why the factor is squared

A metre is 3.280840 feet, so a square metre is a square 3.280840 feet on each side: 3.280840 × 3.280840 = 10.76391 square feet. The rule holds for every area conversion — square the length factor — and it is the single most common mistake in the whole subject, because 3.28 is the number people remember. Multiplying an area by 3.28 instead of 10.76 undercounts it by two thirds, which turns an 80 m² flat into a 262 ft² studio. The same logic pushes volume to the cube: one cubic metre is 35.31 cubic feet.

The number is only as good as its definition

Converting is the easy half. The harder half is that countries do not measure the same thing. Spain distinguishes superficie construida, which includes walls and a share of common areas, from superficie útil, the usable floor inside them, and the two can differ by 15 to 25%. France's Carrez law defines a specific measured area for sales of flats. American listings quote gross living area, which excludes unfinished basements and garages but counts interior walls. Two identical homes can therefore carry very different numbers before any conversion, so check what was measured before comparing.

Floor areas you can picture

A single bedroom: 10–14 m², which is 108–151 ft².
A one-bedroom flat: 45–60 m², or 484–646 ft².
A family house in Europe: 100–160 m², or 1,076–1,722 ft².
The median new single-family home in the United States is around 2,200 ft², about 204 m².
A parking space: 12.5 m², or 135 ft².
A tennis court, singles: 195.6 m², or 2,106 ft².

Where area conversions go wrong

Using 3.28 instead of 10.76 — the classic. The answer comes out three times too small.
Comparing built area with usable area. In Spain the gap between construida and útil is routinely 15–25%.
Counting balconies. Some markets include them at full value, some at half, some not at all.
Buying flooring by area without adding waste. Allow 5–10% for cuts, more for diagonal or patterned layouts.
Confusing square yards with square feet: a square yard is nine square feet, not three.
Assuming a listed area includes the garage. In American listings it usually does not.

Worked examples

Flats, floors and materials

An 80 m² flat

80 × 10.7639 = 861.1 ft²
Mental check: 80 × 10 = 800, plus 8%
In square yards: 861.1 ÷ 9 = 95.7 yd²

80 m² = 861 ft²

A 1,500 ft² American house

1,500 × 0.092903 = 139.4 m²
Mental check: 1,500 ÷ 10 = 150, minus 7%
Add 8% for flooring waste: order about 151 m²

1,500 ft² = 139.4 m²

Frequently Asked Questions

How many square feet are in a square metre?

10.7639 square feet. The number is the length conversion squared: a metre is 3.280840 feet, and 3.280840 squared is 10.76391. It is exact, because the foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 metres.

Why can't I just multiply by 3.28?

Because 3.28 converts lengths, not areas. An area is two dimensions, so the factor has to be applied twice: 3.28 × 3.28 = 10.76. Using 3.28 on an area undercounts it by about two thirds, turning an 80 m² flat into 262 ft².

How big is 100 square metres in square feet?

1,076 square feet, which in most markets is a comfortable two- or three-bedroom flat. For the reverse, 1,000 ft² is 92.9 m². The mental shortcut is to multiply metres by ten and add eight per cent.

Why does the same flat show different areas in different countries?

Because the definitions differ. Spain separates superficie construida, which includes walls and a share of common space, from superficie útil, which is the floor you can actually walk on. France uses the Carrez measurement for sales. American listings quote gross living area, excluding garages and unfinished basements. The conversion is exact; the definitions are not.

How much extra flooring should I order?

Between 5 and 10% more than the measured area for straight layouts, and up to 15% for diagonal patterns, herringbone or rooms with many cuts. Convert first, then add the waste allowance — doing it the other way around compounds the rounding.

What is the equivalent rule for volume?

Cube the length factor instead of squaring it. One cubic metre is 3.280840³ = 35.3147 cubic feet. The same trap catches people in concrete and shipping calculations, where the error is a factor of ten rather than three.