3 Ways To Calculate Square Meters - WikiHow

Home » Area Calculator M To M2 » 3 Ways To Calculate Square Meters - WikiHow

Maybe your like

Skip to ContentQuizzes
  • Home
  • Random
  • Browse Articles
  • Quizzes & Games
  • All QuizzesHot
  • Love Quizzes
  • Personality Quizzes
  • Fun Games
  • Dating Simulator
  • Learn Something New
  • Forums
  • Courses
  • Happiness Hub
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Calculate Square Meters PDF download Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Calculating an Area in Square Meters 2 Converting from Other Units 3 Calculating Square Meters for a Complex Shape Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Mario Banuelos, PhD

Last Updated: January 12, 2025 Fact Checked

PDF download Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Mario Banuelos, PhD. Mario Banuelos is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Fresno. With over eight years of teaching experience, Mario specializes in mathematical biology, optimization, statistical models for genome evolution, and data science. Mario holds a BA in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Merced. Mario has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,396,338 times.

Square meters are a measurement of area, usually used to measure a two-dimensional space such as a field or floor.[1] For example, you might measure the footprint of a couch in square meters, then measure your living room in square meters to see if it will fit. If you only have a ruler or measuring tape that uses feet or another non-metric unit, you can still use it to calculate the area, and then convert to square meters.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Calculating an Area in Square Meters

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Choose a meter stick or metric tape measure. 1 Choose a meter stick or metric tape measure. Select a meter stick ruler or tape measure with meters (m) or centimeters (cm) printed on it. These tools will make it easier to calculate square meters since they were designed in the same system of measurement.
    • If you can only find a ruler with feet (ft) or inches (in), measure with those instead, then go to the section on converting to square meters.
  2. Step 2 Measure the length 2 Measure the length of the area you're measuring. Square meters are a unit for measuring area, or the size of a two-dimensional object such as a floor or a field. Use your measuring tool to measure one side of the object, from one corner to the other.[2] Write down the result.
    • If the object is longer than 1 meter, remember to include both the meter and centimeter parts of the measurement. For instance, "2 meters 35 centimeters."
    • If you want to measure an object that isn't rectangular or square, read the Complex Shapes section instead.
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 If you can't measure the entire length at once, do it in stages. 3 If you can't measure the entire length at once, do it in stages. Lay out the measuring tool, then put down a rock or other small object exactly at an easy-to-remember mark (like 1 meter or 25 centimeters). Pick up the tool and lay it down again, starting at the small object. Repeat until the entire length is covered, and add all your measurements together.
    • If the room isn't rectangular, break it into several small rectangles, then measure those. For example, if the room is L-shaped, break that up into two non-overlapping rectangles.[3]
  4. Step 4 Measure the width. 4 Measure the width. Use the same tool to measure the width of the same area or object. The side you measure in this step should be angled close to 90º away from the length of the object you measured earlier, like two sides of a square next to each other.[4] Write this number down as well.
    • Unless the object you're measuring is much smaller than 1 meter, you can round to the nearest centimeter when making your measurements. For instance, if the width is slightly past the 1 meter 8 centimeter mark, just use '"1m 8cm" as your measurement, without using decimals or millimeter measurements.
  5. Step 5 Convert 5 Convert from centimeters to meters. Usually, the measurements won't divide evenly into meters. Instead, you'll have a measurement in both meters and centimeters, for example, "2 meters 35 centimeters." Because 1 centimeter = 0.01 meters, you can convert a centimeter measurement into meters by moving the decimal point two digits to the left. Here are a couple examples:[5]
    • 35cm = 0.35m, so 2m 35cm = 2m + 0.35m = 2.35m
    • 8cm = 0.08m, so 1m 8cm = 1.08m
  6. Step 6 Multiply 6 Multiply the length and width together. Once both measurements are converted into meters, multiply them together to get the measurement of the area in square meters.[6] Use a calculator if necessary.[7] For example:
    • 2.35m x 1.08m = 2.538 square meters (m2).
  7. Step 7 Round to a more convenient measurement. 7 Round to a more convenient measurement. If you get a long decimal as an answer, for instance, 2.538 square meters, you'll probably want to round it to a number with fewer digits, for instance 2.54 square meters. Since you probably didn't measure correctly down to the tiniest fraction of a meter, the last digits probably aren't accurate anyway. In most cases, you can round to the nearest centimeter (0.01m). For a more accurate measurement, learn how to round to the significant digits.
    • Whenever you multiply two numbers with the same units (for instance, meters), the answer is always in the form of that unit squared (m2, or square meters).
    8. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Converting from Other Units

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Multiply square feet by 0.093 1 Multiply square feet by 0.093. Measure the length and width in feet and multiply them together to get a result in square feet. Since 1 square foot = 0.093 square meters, multiply your result by 0.093 to get the answer in square meters instead.[8] Square meters are bigger than square feet, so it will take fewer of them to cover the same area.
    • For greater precision, multiply by 0.092903 instead.
  2. Step 2 Multiply square yards by 0.84 2 Multiply square yards by 0.84. If you have the measurement in square yards, multiply by 0.84 to get the measurement in square meters.[9]
    • For greater precision, multiply by 0.83613 instead.
  3. Step 3 Multiply acres by 4050. 3 Multiply acres by 4050. One acre contains about 4050 square meters. If you want to be more precise, multiply by 4046.9 instead.[10]
  4. Step 4 Convert 4 Convert square miles to square kilometers instead. One square mile is much, much larger than a square meter, so typically it is converted into square kilometers instead. Multiply the square miles by 2.6 to find the area in square kilometers instead. (Or multiply by 2.59 instead to be more precise.)[11]
    • If you want to convert to square meters, 1 square kilometer = 1,000,000 square meters.
  5. Step 5 Convert square meters to units of area, not length. 5 Convert square meters to units of area, not length. Square meters are a unit that measures area, or two-dimensional surfaces. It doesn't make any sense to compare them with units that measure length, or distance in one direction. You can convert between "square meters" and "square feet," but not between "square meters" and "feet."
    • Don't use the calculations in this section to convert between units of length. That requires different numbers.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Calculating Square Meters for a Complex Shape

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Break the shape up into pieces. 1 Break the shape up into pieces. If you are solving a math problem, draw or cut lines in the shape to divide it into simpler shapes, such as rectangles and triangles. If you are measuring a room or other physical object, sketch a diagram of the area first, then do the same thing. Take measurements of each section and write them on the diagram.[12] Follow the instructions below to find the area of each section, then add the results together.
  2. Step 2 Measure rectangle-shaped pieces as you would normally. 2 Measure rectangle-shaped pieces as you would normally. To find the area in square meters for rectangular sections, see the instructions for calculating an area in square meters.
    • If you are measuring in a different unit, look at the section on other units.
  3. Step 3 Measure right triangles similarly, then divide by two. 3 Measure right triangles similarly, then divide by two. A right triangle, which has a 90º angle just like the corners of a square, has an area easy to calculate. Measure the two sides next to that 90º corner (the length and width), multiply them together, then divide by two to get the answer in square meters.[13]
    • This works because a right triangle is exactly the size of a rectangle cut in half. You found the area of a rectangle as usual, then divided by two to get the area of the triangle.
  4. Step 4 Turn other triangles into right triangles, then measure them. 4 Turn other triangles into right triangles, then measure them. Draw a line from any corner of a triangle to the opposite side, so that the line hits the opposite side at a 90º angle (picture the corner of a square). You've just divided the triangle into two pieces, each one a right triangle! See above for instructions on how to find the area of a right triangle; measure each of the two sub-triangles separately, and add them together.
  5. Step 5 Calculate the area 5 Calculate the area of a circle. The area of a circle is πr2, where r is the radius, or distance from the center of the circle to the rim, or perimeter.[14] Measure this distance, multiply it by itself, then multiply the result by π on a calculator. If you don't have a calculator with a π function, use 3.14 instead (or 3.1416 if high precision is required).
    • If you're not sure where the center is, have a friend hold a tape measure and walk around the edge of the circle. Hold the other end of the tape measure and adjust your position until the measurement stays the same while your friend walks around the entire edge.
    • More complicated curved boundaries require more advanced math to calculate. If you are measuring a room for practical purposes, it might be easier to estimate the area by pretending the curved surfaces are a series of straight lines.
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question How do you find the area of an L-shaped room? Mario Banuelos, PhD Mario Banuelos, PhD Associate Professor of Mathematics Mario Banuelos is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Fresno. With over eight years of teaching experience, Mario specializes in mathematical biology, optimization, statistical models for genome evolution, and data science. Mario holds a BA in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Merced. Mario has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels. Mario Banuelos, PhD Mario Banuelos, PhD Associate Professor of Mathematics Expert Answer Break it into two non-overlapping rectangles and measure the length and width of both. Multiply the length and width of each rectangle, then add them together. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 18
  • Question How many meters is a square meter? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer A meter is a measurement of length. A square meter is a measurement of area. One square meter is the equivalent of the area of a square that is one meter in length on each side. The perimeter of such a square (the total distance around it) would be four meters. A square meter could also be the area of some other figure such as a rectangle, triangle or circle if it contains the same amount of space as the square just mentioned. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 26 Helpful 38
  • Question How do I figure out the area of a room in square meters? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer If the room is rectangular, measure the length and width of the room in meters, then multiply those dimensions together. If the room is not a perfect rectangle (e.g., if it has an alcove), you’ll need to divide up the room into rectangular (or triangular) portions. Find the area of the main part of the room and add it to the area of the alcove or extension. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 41
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

  • Say "five square meters" instead of "five meters squared." These are technically both correct, but the second one is often misinterpreted to mean the area of a square five meters long and five meters wide (which has an area of 25 square meters, or 5 x 5). Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 17
  • If you're not sure whether you calculated correctly, check that your answer is in the right ballpark with these measurements:
    • An American football field is about 5,400 square meters.
    • An association football (soccer) field ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 square meters.
    • A king-size mattress is about 5 square meters.
    Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 9
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler or tape measure
  • Calculator

You Might Also Like

Convert Meters to FeetHow toConvert Meters to Feet Calculate Area of an ObjectHow to Calculate the Area of 2D and 3D Shapes Convert Square Meters to Square Feet and Vice VersaHow toConvert Square Meters to Square Feet and Vice Versa Find Area and PerimeterHow to Calculate Area and Perimeter: Formula & Examples Find the Area of a ShapeHow toFind the Area of a Shape Measure a RoomHow toMeasure a Room Determine Square InchesHow toDetermine Square Inches How toMeasure Square Footage Calculate the Area of a ParallelogramHow toCalculate the Area of a Parallelogram Calculate AcreageHow toCalculate Acreage Visualize Square FeetHow toVisualize Square Feet Find Cubic FeetHow toFind Cubic Feet Measure CentimetersHow toMeasure Centimeters Convert Meters to MillimetersHow toConvert Meters to Millimeters Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/square-meter.html
  2. ↑ https://www.sciencing.com/calculate-square-meters-room-7776820/
  3. ↑ Mario Banuelos, PhD. Associate Professor of Mathematics. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.sciencing.com/calculate-square-meters-room-7776820/
  5. ↑ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/cm-to-meter.html
  6. ↑ Mario Banuelos, PhD. Associate Professor of Mathematics. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ https://www.inchcalculator.com/square-meters-calculator/
  8. ↑ https://www.metric-conversions.org/area/square-feet-to-square-meters.htm
  9. ↑ https://www.metric-conversions.org/area/square-yards-to-square-meters.htm
More References (5)
  1. ↑ https://www.metric-conversions.org/area/acres-to-square-meters.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.metric-conversions.org/area/square-miles-to-square-kilometers.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.sciencing.com/calculate-square-meters-room-7776820/
  4. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/math/basic-geo/basic-geo-area-and-perimeter/area-triangle/v/example-finding-area-of-triangle
  5. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/circle-area.html

About This Article

Mario Banuelos, PhD Co-authored by: Mario Banuelos, PhD Associate Professor of Mathematics This article was co-authored by Mario Banuelos, PhD. Mario Banuelos is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Fresno. With over eight years of teaching experience, Mario specializes in mathematical biology, optimization, statistical models for genome evolution, and data science. Mario holds a BA in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Merced. Mario has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels. This article has been viewed 4,396,338 times. 72 votes - 76% Co-authors: 39 Updated: January 12, 2025 Views: 4,396,338 Categories: Calculating Volume and Area Article SummaryX

To calculate square meters, first measure the length of the area you’re measuring. Then, measure the width. Convert any centimeters in your measurement to meters. For example, if the length you measured is 2 meters and 35 centimeters, you would convert the 35 centimeters to meters by moving the decimal point two digits to the left, which would give you 0.35 meters. Therefore, the length is 2.35 meters. Finally, multiply the length and width to get the number of square meters. For example, if the length is 2.35 meters and the width is 2 meters, you would multiply 2.35 by 2 and get 4.7. Therefore, the area you’re measuring is 4.7 square meters. If you’re measuring in feet instead of meters, first convert any inches in your measurements to feet by dividing the number of inches by 12. For example, if the width of the area you're measuring is 10 feet and 5 inches, you would divide 5 by 12 and get 0.42. Therefore, the width is 10.42 feet. Multiply the length by the width to get the number of square feet, then multiply the number of square feet by 0.093 to find the number of square meters. For example, if the area you’re measuring is 2 square feet, you would multiply 2 by 0.093 and get 0.186. Therefore, the area is 0.186 square meters. To learn how to calculate square meters for areas that aren't square or rectangular, read the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish Portuguese Italian French Russian Dutch Indonesian Thai Hindi Vietnamese Arabic Czech Korean Turkish Chinese Persian Japanese
  • Print
  • Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,396,338 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Sonya White

    Sonya White

    Feb 14, 2017

    "For those people who are not mathematically inclined, I think this is great! Explanations are in the simplest of..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Mario Banuelos, PhD Co-authored by: Mario Banuelos, PhD Associate Professor of Mathematics 72 votes - 76% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 39 Updated: January 12, 2025 Views: 4,396,338 Sonya White

Sonya White

Feb 14, 2017

"For those people who are not mathematically inclined, I think this is great! Explanations are in the simplest of..." more Chiara Lopez

Chiara Lopez

Sep 4, 2021

"I simply couldn't remember how to calculate the area of my floor. This article was very helpful (sent me back..." more Fernando Coelho

Fernando Coelho

Aug 24, 2018

"Thanks so much guys for sharing such valuable knowledge in such a simplified way for understanding, I've..." more Zeelo Stara

Zeelo Stara

Mar 27, 2017

"I did not know how to calculate the square meters, but in just a few seconds I've learned everything, all..." more Anonymous

Anonymous

Oct 28, 2016

"Am really happy for your help to have an extra technique to calculate square meters. Thanks." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

Am I Smarter than a 5th Grader QuizAm I Smarter than a 5th Grader QuizTake QuizIQ Test For KidsIQ Test For KidsTake QuizIQ TestIQ TestTake QuizBedroom Aesthetic QuizBedroom Aesthetic QuizTake QuizWhat Is My Face Shape QuizWhat Is My Face Shape QuizTake QuizDo You Have What It Takes To Become A Millionaire?Do You Have What It Takes To Become A Millionaire?Take Quiz

You Might Also Like

Convert Meters to FeetHow toConvert Meters to FeetCalculate Area of an ObjectHow to Calculate the Area of 2D and 3D ShapesConvert Square Meters to Square Feet and Vice VersaHow toConvert Square Meters to Square Feet and Vice VersaFind Area and PerimeterHow to Calculate Area and Perimeter: Formula & Examples

Trending Articles

How Rare Is Your Name?How Rare Is Your Name?The Different Kinds of Dimples: Types, Causes, & Social PerceptionThe Different Kinds of Dimples: Types, Causes, & Social Perception151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to Ask151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to AskSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouTell That Your Crush Likes You BackHow toTell That Your Crush Likes You BackCat Sleeping Positions: 22 Common Poses ExplainedCat Sleeping Positions: 22 Common Poses Explained

Watch Articles

Calculate the Volume of a PyramidHow toCalculate the Volume of a PyramidThe Best Way to Exfoliate Your Scalp (Plus, What to Use)The Best Way to Exfoliate Your Scalp (Plus, What to Use)Save Money as a KidHow toSave Money as a KidPolish AluminumHow toPolish Aluminum2 Easy Renter-Friendly Options to Hang Your Window Treatments2 Easy Renter-Friendly Options to Hang Your Window Treatments Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPointHow to Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint

Trending Articles

Are You Unc? Discover How Old Your Vibe IsAre You Unc? Discover How Old Your Vibe IsWhat's My Hottest Feature QuizWhat's My Hottest Feature QuizGen Beta Slang QuizGen Beta Slang Quiz24 Different Types of Bras Explained24 Different Types of Bras Explained Play the Concentrate Game (For A Little Scare!)How to Play the Concentrate Game (For A Little Scare!)What Does Your Rice Purity Score Really Mean?What Does Your Rice Purity Score Really Mean?

Quizzes & Games

Do I Have Common Sense QuizDo I Have Common Sense QuizTake QuizWhat Age Is My Brain QuizWhat Age Is My Brain QuizTake QuizMusic Notes & Symbols TestMusic Notes & Symbols TestTake QuizAm I Smart QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizCan We Guess How Tall You Are QuizCan We Guess How Tall You Are QuizTake QuizGeneral Knowledge QuizGeneral Knowledge QuizTake Quiz wikiHow
  • Categories
  • Education and Communications
  • Studying
  • Mathematics
  • Geometry
  • Calculating Volume and Area
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
  • Home
  • About wikiHow
  • Experts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info
  • Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --568

Tag » Area Calculator M To M2