Area Converter

Convert area units like m² to ft², acres to hectares, and more

An area converter helps you switch between different ways of measuring surface size. People usually need this when comparing property listings, planning flooring or paint coverage, reading building drawings, estimating land size, or translating measurements from a product spec into the units they actually use. If you are staring at square meters on a plan but your supplier quotes in square feet, or you have land in acres but need hectares for a form, this calculator gives you the conversion without manual math.

To use the calculator, enter the area value, choose the unit you are converting from, and choose the unit you want to convert to. The result shows the converted value in your target unit. If you want a quick, clean answer, leave the optional precision field blank and the calculator will show results to two decimals. If you need more detail for small areas (like square inches) or very large areas (like square miles), you can set a higher number of decimals so rounding does not hide meaningful differences.

The conversion works by translating your input into a neutral base unit (square meters), then converting from square meters into your chosen target unit. This approach avoids chaining conversions (which can compound rounding errors) and keeps results consistent no matter which pair of units you choose. As a practical extra, the result section also includes a few common reference conversions (square meters, square feet, and acres) so you can sanity-check the scale at a glance.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• The conversion is purely mathematical and assumes standard definitions for each unit (no regional variants).
• If you leave “Optional precision (decimals)” blank, the calculator defaults to 2 decimals for readability.
• Very large or very small values can look “rounded” if you use low precision, so increase decimals when needed.
• This tool converts area only, not linear dimensions. If you have length and width, calculate area first.
• For land measurements, note that “acre” and “hectare” are fixed units and do not change by country.

Common questions

What is the difference between m² and ft²?

Square meters (m²) are a metric area unit commonly used worldwide. Square feet (ft²) are an imperial area unit used heavily in the United States and in some industries. The units measure the same kind of thing (area), just in different scales.

Why do my conversions look slightly different from another website?

Most differences come from rounding. If another site rounds earlier or displays fewer decimals, you can see a small mismatch. Increase the optional precision setting here to compare like-for-like. If two tools still disagree at higher precision, one of them may be using an incorrect conversion factor.

How many decimals should I use?

For everyday tasks like room size, flooring, or basic property comparisons, 2 decimals is usually fine. For small parts (converting between in² and cm²) or for technical work, use 3–6 decimals. For extremely large areas (km² or mi²), more decimals can help when comparing close values.

Can I convert acres to hectares reliably for official forms?

Yes. Acres and hectares are fixed definitions, so the conversion is consistent. The only common issue is rounding. If the form expects a certain level of precision, set the decimals field to match that requirement.

When does this calculator not apply?

This tool is for converting a known area value between units. It does not calculate area from dimensions, and it does not account for irregular shapes, slopes, or measurement uncertainty. If your input is an estimate, your output will be an estimate too, just expressed in a different unit.