Convert m² to ft² instantly — and between square yards and square centimetres. Essential for UK property floor areas.
Last updated: February 2026
Area Converter: m² ↔ ft²
Square Feet (ft²)
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Square Metres (m²)
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Square Yards (yd²)
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Square cm (cm²)
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Key Conversion: 1 m² in Square Feet
1 square metre = 10.7639 square feet. To convert m² to ft², multiply by 10.7639. To convert ft² to m², divide by 10.7639 (or multiply by 0.092903).
How to Convert Square Metres to Square Feet
The conversion between square metres and square feet derives from the linear relationship between metres and feet: since 1 metre = 3.28084 feet, squaring both sides gives us 1 m² = 3.28084² = 10.7639 ft².
The conversion formulas are:
ft² = m² × 10.7639 m² = ft² × 0.092903 m² = ft² ÷ 10.7639
Example: Convert 85 m² to square feet:
85 × 10.7639 = 914.93 square feet
Converting Square Metres to Square Yards
Square yards are occasionally encountered in the UK, particularly for carpet fitting, flooring quotes, and older property documents. The conversion is: 1 m² = 1.19599 yd². To convert, multiply m² by 1.19599, or divide by 0.836127.
UK Property Sizes: Standard Floor Areas by Property Type
Understanding floor areas is essential when buying, renting, or comparing properties in the UK. Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket all list floor areas in square metres (primary) with square feet as secondary. Here is a comprehensive guide to typical UK property sizes:
Studio / Bedsit: 25–40 m² (269–431 ft²)
A studio flat typically consists of one main room serving as bedroom/living room, plus a separate bathroom. London studios can be as small as 15 m² in converted properties, though the Nationally Described Space Standard (NDSS) minimum for a studio is 37 m².
1-Bedroom Flat: 40–55 m² (431–592 ft²)
A one-bedroom flat has a separate bedroom, living room, kitchen (or kitchen-diner), and bathroom. New-builds often sit at 45–50 m², while period conversions can reach 60–70 m². NDSS minimum: 50 m².
2-Bedroom Flat/House: 55–75 m² (592–807 ft²)
A two-bedroom property is the most commonly traded size in the UK. Two-bed houses tend to be at the upper end of this range, two-bed flats at the lower. NDSS minimum for 2-bed, 4-person: 70 m².
3-Bedroom House: 75–100 m² (807–1,076 ft²)
The classic UK family home. Post-war semi-detached houses built from 1950–1980 are typically 75–90 m². Modern 3-bed houses often achieve 90–100 m². Older Victorian terraces can exceed 100 m².
4-Bedroom House: 100–150 m² (1,076–1,615 ft²)
Four-bedroom detached houses dominate the upper-middle market. Premium locations see sizes from 100 m² (modern urban) to 200 m²+ (rural detached). Average UK detached house: approximately 135 m².
m² to ft² Conversion Table: 10m² to 200m²
The following table covers the full range of UK residential property floor areas, from a small studio through to a large family home. Key property type thresholds are highlighted.
m²
ft²
yd²
cm²
Property Context
UK Property Floor Area: Legal Requirements and Context
The Nationally Described Space Standard (NDSS), introduced in England in 2015, sets minimum floor areas for new-build residential properties. Planning authorities in England can require developments to meet these standards as a condition of planning permission. Scotland has its own Housing for Varying Needs standards, while Wales uses Technical Housing Standards.
NDSS Minimum Sizes (England)
1-person studio: 37 m² (398 ft²)
1-bed, 2-person flat: 50 m² (538 ft²)
2-bed, 3-person: 61 m² (657 ft²)
2-bed, 4-person: 70 m² (753 ft²)
3-bed, 4-person: 74 m² (797 ft²)
3-bed, 5-person: 86 m² (926 ft²)
3-bed, 6-person: 95 m² (1,023 ft²)
How UK Estate Agents Report Floor Area
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) guidance (updated 2022) requires estate agents to include accurate floor plan measurements in property listings. Measurements should be in square metres. Since January 2023, Rightmove requires all UK property listings to include a floor plan with m² measurements.
Floor area is typically measured from the internal faces of the perimeter walls, excluding walls, stairs, and other structural elements. Mezzanine levels and rooms with ceiling height under 1.5 metres are typically excluded from the usable floor area calculation.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) and Floor Area
Every property sold or rented in the UK requires a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The EPC includes the property's total floor area in square metres, which is used to calculate the property's energy consumption per unit area (kWh/m²/year). Understanding your property's m² floor area is therefore directly relevant to reading and comparing EPC ratings.
Why Square Feet Still Matters in the UK
Despite the official adoption of square metres, square feet remains widely used in UK property discussions. American property TV shows, American real estate websites (influential on UK buyers via Airbnb and vacation rental markets), and older UK property documents all use square feet. Many UK homebuyers who have lived in the US, Canada, or Australia are more comfortable thinking in square feet.
In practice, both units are useful: square metres for comparing properties on portals, calculating energy costs, and planning permissions; square feet for quick mental comparisons, communicating with international buyers, and interpreting older property surveys.
Carpet and Flooring: m² vs yd²
The UK flooring industry has largely moved to square metres for pricing, but square yards persist particularly among older carpet retailers. Be aware that a quote "per square yard" will appear cheaper than "per square metre" by a factor of approximately 1.196 — ensure you compare like for like. The calculator above handles yd² conversions for exactly this purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet is 1 square metre? +
1 m² = 10.7639 square feet. This comes from squaring the linear conversion: 1 metre = 3.28084 feet, so 1 m² = 3.28084 × 3.28084 = 10.7639 ft².
What is 50 m² in square feet? +
50 m² = 538.2 square feet. Calculation: 50 × 10.7639 = 538.195 ft². A 50 m² flat is a typical 1-bedroom flat in UK cities.
How do I convert square feet to square metres? +
To convert ft² to m², multiply by 0.092903 (or divide by 10.7639). Example: 1,000 ft² × 0.092903 = 92.9 m². A 1,000 ft² property is approximately 93 m², a comfortable 2-bedroom flat.
What does 75 m² look like? +
75 m² (807 ft²) is equivalent to a room measuring roughly 8.7m × 8.7m, or more practically a 2-bedroom flat with a living room, separate kitchen, bedroom, second bedroom/study, and bathroom. This falls within the 2-bed UK average.
What is 100 m² in square feet? +
100 m² = 1,076.39 square feet. A 100 m² house is a roomy 3-bedroom property in UK terms, well above the average new-build size. It's a square room measuring 10m × 10m.
Are UK property floor areas measured internally or externally? +
UK property floor areas are measured internally — from the inner face of perimeter walls. This is the Gross Internal Area (GIA) methodology, as defined by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Advertising floor area includes all habitable rooms plus kitchen, bathrooms, and hallways, but typically excludes garages (unless integral), cellars, and roof spaces.
How many square metres is a standard UK parking space? +
A standard UK parking space is typically 4.8m × 2.4m = 11.52 m² (124 ft²). Wider bays for disabled parking are 2.7m wide minimum, giving 12.96 m². This is relevant for planning applications and property valuations where parking contributes to property value.
Property measurement specialist at UK Calculator. Floor area standards verified against RICS, NDSS, and Land Registry guidance. Learn more about our team.