How to Calculate Square Meters

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 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. 2

   Step 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.
   
   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. , 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. , 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.
   
   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. , 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: 35cm =
   0.35m, so 2m 35cm = 2m +
   0.35m =
   2.35m 8cm =
   0.08m, so 1m 8cm =
   1.08m , Once both measurements are converted into meters, multiply them together to get the measurement of the area in square meters.
   
   Use a calculator if necessary.
   
   For example:
   2.35m x
   1.08m =
   2.538 square meters (m2). , 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.
   
   In fact, 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).
3. 3

   Step 3: If you can't measure the entire length at once

4. 4

   Step 4: do it in stages.

5. 5

   Step 5: Measure the width.

6. 6

   Step 6: Convert from centimeters to meters.

7. 7

   Step 7: Multiply the length and width together.

8. 8

   Step 8: Round to a more convenient measurement.

Detailed Guide

About the Author