About this tool
Why use this tool
UK property is typically listed in square metres for new builds and square feet for older stock — you'll see both on Rightmove and Zoopla. Land is measured in acres (rural) and hectares (agricultural/scientific). Converting matters for comparing homes across formats, buying rural property, gardening plots, and reading Ordnance Survey data (metric). The NPL maintains SI standards; the Weights and Measures Act 1985 allows imperial as supplementary.
How it works
1 sq ft = 0.0929 m². 1 m² = 10.7639 sq ft. 1 acre = 4,046.86 m² = 0.4047 hectare. 1 hectare = 10,000 m² = 2.471 acres. 1 sq mile = 640 acres = 2.59 km². The RICS Code of Measuring Practice (7th edition) sets professional area definitions: Gross Internal Area (GIA), Net Internal Area (NIA), Effective Floor Area.
Real example
A 90 m² London flat = 969 sq ft. A UK average family home at 76 m² (ONS) = 818 sq ft — smaller than European neighbours. A one-acre rural plot = 4,047 m². Wembley Stadium's pitch (105 × 68 m) covers 7,140 m² = 0.71 ha = 1.76 acres. A typical UK farm at 220 acres = 89 hectares.
Practical tips
Quick math: multiply m² by 10 to approximate sq ft (7 % error). For property, always ask which RICS measurement (GIA, NIA) is used — HMRC and lenders may require specific definitions. Look up local Article 4 directions for planning restrictions. For rural land, acres remain the trade norm; hectares are used for CAP/DEFRA subsidies. Check the Land Registry title plan for boundaries — differences between marketed and registered area may trigger reduction under the Misrepresentation Act 1967. Use OS MasterMap (free via NLS historical maps) for area verification.
Disclaimer
Conversions follow NPL-certified ratios. For binding measurements, engage an RICS-regulated chartered surveyor. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 make misleading floor-area advertising an offence. This tool is for general reference only, not for RICS-standard reporting.