What this area converter does
This tool converts between the seven area units most often encountered in Pakistani schoolwork and property transactions: square metres, square kilometres, square centimetres, square feet, square yards, acres and hectares. It uses the same two-step conversion through the SI base unit (square metre) as the other converters, so the results are consistent and exact. The page also explains the single most important idea in area conversion — that linear factors must be squared — and includes a Pakistani-context section on marla, kanal and bigha for students dealing with land records, along with worked examples for classroom plots, cricket fields, and agricultural areas.
Why area factors are squared
Area is two-dimensional. A square metre is a square whose side is 1 metre. A square centimetre is a square whose side is 1 centimetre. Since 1 m = 100 cm, a metre-square is 100 cm wide and 100 cm tall, containing 100 × 100 = 10,000 cm².
The rule in one line
If the length factor between two units is f, the area factor is f². So while 1 m = 3.28084 ft, the area relationship is 1 m² = 3.28084² ft² = 10.7639 ft².
Common area factors
- 1 m² = 10,000 cm² = 1,000,000 mm² (factors 100², 1000²)
- 1 m² = 10.7639 ft² (factor 3.28084²)
- 1 m² = 1.19599 yd² (factor 1.09361²)
- 1 km² = 1,000,000 m² (factor 1000²)
- 1 hectare = 10,000 m² (by definition)
- 1 acre = 4046.8564224 m² = 4840 yd² (exact)
Worked examples
Example 1: 100 m² to square feet
- 1 m² = 10.7639 ft².
- Result = 100 × 10.7639.
- Result = 1076.39 ft².
- A 100 m² flat is about 1076 sq ft — a common size for a 3-bedroom apartment.
Example 2: 1 m² to cm² (the classic trap)
- 1 m = 100 cm, so the linear factor is 100.
- Squared: 1 m² = 100² cm² = 10,000 cm².
- Many students mistakenly write 100 cm² — that would be a square only 10 cm on each side.
Example 3: 1 acre to square metres
- 1 acre = 4046.8564224 m² exactly.
- Result = 4046.86 m².
- An acre is roughly 63 m × 64 m — just over half a hectare.
Example 4: 1 hectare to acres
- 1 hectare = 10,000 m².
- 1 acre = 4046.86 m².
- Result = 10,000 / 4046.86 = 2.4711 acres.
- A hectare is about 2.47 acres — the standard agricultural reference.
Example 5: A cricket field, 150 m × 140 m
- Compute in metres: 150 × 140 = 21,000 m².
- In acres: 21,000 / 4046.86 = 5.19 acres.
- In hectares: 21,000 / 10,000 = 2.1 ha.
- A standard cricket field is about 5 acres — larger than a football pitch.
Example 6: A house plot, 30 ft × 50 ft, in m²
- Compute in ft²: 30 × 50 = 1500 ft².
- 1 ft² = 0.092903 m².
- Result = 1500 × 0.092903 = 139.35 m².
- A 5 marla plot in Pakistan is typically 25 × 50 ft, so this is about 6 marla.
Example 7: 500 cm² to m²
- 1 cm² = 0.0001 m².
- Result = 500 × 0.0001.
- Result = 0.05 m².
- A 500 cm² sheet of paper is half of a square metre.
Example 8: 25 kanal to acres
- 1 kanal ≈ 505.857 m² (20 marla of 25.2929 m² each).
- 25 × 505.857 = 12,646.43 m².
- 12,646.43 / 4046.86 = 3.125 acres.
- An acre = 8 kanal, so 25 kanal = 3.125 acre. Correct.
Pakistani land units
Property transactions in Punjab and other Pakistani provinces still commonly use traditional area units alongside the metric ones. The most important are:
| Unit | Square metres | Square feet | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 marla | 25.2929 | 272.25 | Standard in Punjab (30.25 sq yd) |
| 1 kanal | 505.857 | 5445 | = 20 marla |
| 1 acre | 4046.86 | 43560 | = 8 kanal = 160 marla |
| 1 bigha (Punjab) | 1008.33 | 10854 | Varies by region — check local definition |
| 1 hectare | 10,000 | 107,639 | Metric unit for land |
Important caveat: traditional land units are not standardized across Pakistan. A marla is 30.25 square yards (≈ 25.2929 m²) in Punjab and most urban areas, but some regions use different definitions. Similarly, a bigha varies by province and even by district. Always verify against the local land record (fard) or the registry document before relying on a conversion in a property transaction. When in doubt, use the officially recorded figure in square feet or square metres from the registry.
Full reference table
Exact or standard equivalences for every unit in the converter.
| Unit | In m² | In ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm² | 0.0001 | 0.00107639 |
| 1 m² | 1 | 10.7639 |
| 1 km² | 1,000,000 | 10,763,910 |
| 1 ft² | 0.092903 | 1 |
| 1 yd² | 0.836127 | 9 |
| 1 acre | 4046.86 | 43,560 |
| 1 ha | 10,000 | 107,639 |
The value 1 acre = 43,560 ft² is exactly correct (4840 yd² × 9 = 43,560) and is a standard anchor for land measurement in countries that use the imperial system.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to square the linear factor. 1 m = 100 cm, but 1 m² = 10,000 cm², not 100. Similarly, 1 m = 3.28084 ft, but 1 m² = 10.7639 ft², not 3.28. This is by far the most common area conversion error.
- Using the area factor when it should be linear (or vice versa). If you are converting a length (like a room's dimension), use the linear factor. If you are converting an area, use the squared factor. Do not mix the two.
- Assuming a "marla" is the same everywhere in Pakistan. The standard Punjab marla is 30.25 square yards, but some districts use a different size. Always verify from the land record. Similarly, a bigha is 1008 m² in Punjab but different elsewhere.
- Confusing acre and hectare. An acre is 4046.86 m²; a hectare is 10,000 m². A hectare is about 2.47 acres. The two are commonly mixed in agricultural contexts.
- Assuming the "marla" in a Karachi or Lahore listing is the same. Different urban areas may use different marla definitions (some 25 sq yd, some 30.25 sq yd, some 36 sq yd). Always confirm the unit definition in the listing.
- Rounding 1 ft² = 0.09 m² for engineering work. The exact factor is 0.092903 m². The difference is 3%, which can matter for structural or material calculations.
- Mixing cm² and m² without conversion. A wall area might be quoted as 40,000 cm² or 4 m² — both are the same area. Be careful not to treat 40,000 cm² as a much larger area than 4 m² without converting.
FAQ
How do I convert square metres to square feet?
Multiply square metres by 10.7639. For example, 100 m² = 1076.39 ft². Since 1 m = 3.28084 ft, the area factor is 3.28084² ≈ 10.7639. The factor is squared because area is two-dimensional — each linear dimension scales separately.
Why is 1 m² equal to 10,000 cm² and not 100 cm²?
Because 1 m = 100 cm, a square metre is a square with 100 cm on each side. Its area is 100 × 100 = 10,000 cm². The linear factor of 100 is squared. This is the most common mistake in area conversion — students sometimes multiply by 100 instead of 10,000.
How many square metres is an acre?
One international acre is exactly 4046.8564224 m². It is defined as 4840 square yards, and each yard is 0.9144 m, so 4840 × 0.9144² = 4046.8564224. In Pakistani land records, an acre is often converted to 8 kanals (each kanal is 505.857 m²).
What is a hectare in square metres?
One hectare is exactly 10,000 m² — a square 100 m on each side. A hectare is 2.471 acres. It is the standard metric unit for land area and is widely used in agriculture in Pakistan.
What are marla, kanal and bigha?
Marla, kanal and bigha are traditional South Asian land units still widely used in Pakistani property transactions. In Punjab: 1 marla ≈ 25.2929 m² (272.25 ft²), 1 kanal = 20 marla ≈ 505.857 m², 1 bigha varies by region (typically 1008 m² in Punjab). An acre = 8 kanal = 160 marla. A 'marla' in some regions is 30.25 square yards, so always confirm the local definition.
How do I convert a rectangular plot in feet to square metres?
First compute the area in square feet by multiplying length by width in feet, then convert ft² to m² by multiplying by 0.092903. For example, a 30 ft × 50 ft plot is 1500 ft² = 1500 × 0.092903 = 139.35 m². Alternatively, convert each dimension to metres first, then multiply — the result is the same because the factor squares correctly either way.
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