We explain what a square meter is and how it is calculated. Also, what are the equivalent measurements in other units.
The square meter is the basic unit of surface measurement.What is a square meter?
The square meter is Unit basic of measurement of the surfaces in International System of Units measurement (YES). It is represented by the symbol m2 and is defined as the area within a square whose sides measure exactly one meter.
In general, the square meter is a unit equivalent to the meter, but used for to size entire areas of flat spaces, rather than simple distances. For this reason, its use is very common in architecture, the engineering and the geography.
In fact, as occurs with the meter, it is possible to obtain a whole series of multiples or sub-multiples whose names are formed by prefixing the square meter with different prefixes of the International System: decasquare meters (102 square meters), centísquare meters (10-4 square meters), kilosquare meters (106 square meters), among others.
The calculation of the square meters of a space or even of an object is useful when determining if an object fits in a certain space, or how much material we will need to cover or fill a space. Hence, this unit is used to express the size of real estate, that is, houses, land and apartments, since it indicates how much available surface they have.
How to calculate square meters?
To calculate the square meters of a surface we must measure and multiply the length and width of the space, and if necessary, translate the measurement into square meters.
To do this, the following steps can be followed:
- Measure the dimensions of the surface. Using a tape measure or some other instrument, measure the length and width of the surface and express it in its unit of measurement. length corresponding: meters, kilometers or centimeters are the most usual. For example, the surface of a room can be 3 meters long by 2 meters wide.
- Apply the calculation formula. This formula is M2 = width x length, that is, the example room consists of 3 x 2 square meters, that is, 6 m2 of total area. This means that six imaginary one-meter squares would fit on its surface, if they were arranged one next to the other until they filled the space.
Equivalent measurements in other units
One square meter (1 m2) is equivalent to:
- 1,000 square millimeters (mm2), that is, 0.001 m2 make 1 mm2.
- 100 square centimeters (cm2), that is, 0.01 m2 make 1 cm2.
- 0.001 square kilometers (km2), that is, 1000 m2 make 1 km2.
- 0.0001 hectares (ha), that is, 10,000 m2 make 1 ha.
Equivalences with the Anglo-Saxon system of measures:
- 10,7639 square feet (ft2).
- 1.19599 square yards (yd2).
- 1550.003 square inches (in2).