Area & Measurement
Square Feet vs Square Yard vs Square Metre
Two conversions. Learn them, and you can check any quote in India — including the ones designed to be hard to check.
The short answer
1 square metre = 10.764 square feet.
1 square yard (gaj) = 9 square feet.
That is it. Those two conversions let you check almost any Indian property quote.
And here is why it matters: RERA filings and legal documents are often in SQUARE METRES, while brochures are in SQUARE FEET. Different numbers, same flat.
The three units
| Unit | Used for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Square foot (sq ft) | Brochures. Advertising. Everyday conversation. Almost all flat quoting. | The default in Indian real estate marketing |
| Square metre (sq m) | RERA filings. Building plans. Legal documents. Approvals. | The regulatory unit. Also the affordable-housing test (60 / 90 sq m) |
| Square yard (gaj) | Plots and land, especially in North India — Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan | 1 gaj = 9 sq ft |
Why the mismatch matters
The brochure says 1,050 sq ft.
The RERA filing says 97.55 sq m.
Are those the same? 97.55 × 10.764 = 1,050 sq ft. Yes.
But you had to do the arithmetic to find out — and if you didn't, you could not check the one legally binding number against the one you were sold.
That is exactly the check you should be doing. Convert the RERA figure and compare it with the brochure. If they don't match, you have found something important.
The conversions
The two you need
- Square metre → square foot
- × 10.764
- Square foot → square metre
- ÷ 10.764 (or × 0.0929)
- Square yard → square foot
- × 9
- Square foot → square yard
- ÷ 9
- Square yard → square metre
- × 0.836
- Acre → square foot
- × 43,560
| Sq metre | Sq feet | Sq yards |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 538 | 60 |
| 60 — affordable housing cap (metro) | 646 | 72 |
| 90 — affordable housing cap (non-metro) | 969 | 108 |
| 100 | 1,076 | 120 |
| 120 | 1,292 | 144 |
| 150 | 1,615 | 179 |
Note the 60 and 90 sq m rows. Those are the affordable-housing thresholds for 1% GST instead of 5% — 646 sq ft and 969 sq ft of CARPET. A flat advertised at 900 sq ft super built-up may well have a carpet area under 646, and qualify. Nobody will volunteer that.
How to check a quote — in two minutes
- Get the carpet area from the RERA filing. It may be in square metres.
- Multiply by 10.764 to get square feet.
- Compare with the brochure's carpet area. They should match.
- If the brochure quotes only super built-up: subtract the RERA carpet from it. That gap, divided by the carpet, is your loading factor.
- Divide the total price by the RERA carpet area. That is your real price per square foot — the only number you can compare between projects.
If your carpet area is under 60 sq metres (646 sq ft) in a metro, and the property is under ₹45 lakh, it qualifies as affordable housing — and the GST is 1% instead of 5%.
On a ₹45 lakh flat that is ₹1.8 lakh.
The test is on carpet area. So a flat advertised at 900 sq ft super built-up may well have a carpet area under 646 — and qualify.
Do the conversion. Ask the question. Builders do not always volunteer it.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet in a square metre?
10.764. So 100 sq m is 1,076 sq ft. To go the other way, divide square feet by 10.764.
How many square feet in a square yard (gaj)?
Nine. One gaj equals 9 square feet. It is used mainly for plots and land in North India — Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Why do RERA filings use square metres?
Because square metres are the regulatory unit — used in building plans, approvals and legal documents. Brochures use square feet. So the same flat has two different numbers, and you have to convert to check one against the other. That conversion is exactly the check you should be doing.
What is 60 square metres in square feet?
646 sq ft — and it matters, because that is the carpet area cap for affordable housing in a metropolitan city. Below it (and under Rs 45 lakh in value), GST is 1% instead of 5%. On a Rs 45 lakh flat that is Rs 1.8 lakh. The test is on CARPET area, so a flat advertised at 900 sq ft super built-up may well qualify.
How do I check a builder's area claim?
Get the carpet area from the RERA filing — it may be in square metres. Multiply by 10.764 for square feet. Compare with the brochure. If the brochure quotes only super built-up, subtract the RERA carpet from it; that gap divided by carpet is your loading factor. Then divide the total price by the RERA carpet area for the only per-square-foot number you can honestly compare.