square feet to square yards calculator
A square feet to square yards calculator divides by 9, so 1,000 sq ft equals 111.11 sq yd, and 450 sq ft of carpet is exactly 50 sq yd.
Square feet to square yards calculator formula
A square feet to square yards calculator divides a floor or ground area in square feet by 9. Square yards = square feet ÷ 9. The reason is that one square yard is a square that is 3 ft on each side, and 3 × 3 = 9. The tool also shows the same area in square meters, using 1 sq ft = 0.092903 m².
The formula in plain words
Take the area in square feet. Divide by 9. The answer is how many 3 by 3 foot squares fit into the area. Be careful not to divide by 3. That gives the length in yards, not the area.
Worked examples
These match the calculator exactly.
- The default value: 1,000 sq ft
- Square yards: 1,000 ÷ 9 = 111.11 sq yd
- Square meters: 1,000 × 0.092903 = 92.90 m²
- A carpet order: 450 sq ft
- Square yards: 450 ÷ 9 = 50.00 sq yd
- Square meters: 450 × 0.092903 = 41.81 m²
If you buy carpet by the yard, add some extra for cuts and seams. Installers usually tell you how much.
Common conversions
| Square feet | Square yards |
|---|---|
| 9 | 1.00 |
| 100 | 11.11 |
| 150 | 16.67 |
| 200 | 22.22 |
| 500 | 55.56 |
| 1,000 | 111.11 |
To move between them in your head, divide by 10 for a rough answer, then add about 10 percent. 500 ÷ 10 = 50, and 10 percent of 50 is 5, which gives 55 against the exact 55.56.
Where square yards are used
Carpet and some vinyl flooring are priced per square yard in North America. Paving and sealcoating contractors sometimes quote that way too. Check which unit a price uses before comparing.
If you want to price carpet by room, see the carpet calculator, which also includes waste. For the reverse conversion, use the square yards to square feet calculator.
How to find the area to convert
For a rectangle, multiply length by width in feet. A 12 ft by 15 ft room is 180 sq ft. For a triangle, multiply base by height and divide by 2. For a circle, multiply the radius by itself, then by 3.14. A 10 ft radius circle is about 314 sq ft. For an L-shaped room, split it into two rectangles and add.
Once you have square feet, enter it in the tool. If your plan is in square meters, divide by 0.092903 to go back to square feet.
A worked room
Say a living room is 18 ft by 14 ft and an alcove adds 6 ft by 4 ft. The main room is 18 × 14 = 252 sq ft, and the alcove is 24 sq ft, so the total is 276 sq ft. Divide by 9 and you get 30.67 sq yd. Carpet is cut from wide rolls, so the installer may need more than that to avoid seams in the wrong places. Ask for a layout before you order.
Mixing square and cubic
Square yards measure a surface. Cubic yards measure volume, which is a surface times a depth. They are not interchangeable. A 9 sq ft slab that is 3 inches thick has a volume of 9 × 0.25 = 2.25 ft³, which is 0.083 yd³. To go from area and depth to volume, see the square feet to cubic yards calculator.
Quick checks
To see whether a result is reasonable, remember that a square yard is a little less than a square meter’s worth of floor, since 1 sq yd is 0.836 m². Ten square yards is a bit more than 8 square meters. If you convert and the answer is bigger than the starting number, something went wrong, since the square yard is the larger unit.
Common mistakes
- Dividing by 3 instead of 9.
- Mixing up square yards with cubic yards.
- Forgetting waste when buying flooring.
- Using a room’s wall area instead of its floor area.
- Rounding too early, which can leave you short on a large order.
Related pages
Use the square yards to square feet calculator to go the other way, or the feet to yards calculator for lengths.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert square feet to square yards?
Divide the square feet by 9, because a square yard is 3 ft by 3 ft, which is 9 sq ft. So 1,000 sq ft is 1,000 ÷ 9 = 111.11 sq yd.
Why 9 and not 3?
A yard is 3 feet long, and area multiplies two lengths. 3 × 3 = 9 square feet in a square yard. Dividing by 3 would give the wrong answer.
How many square yards is a 12 × 15 ft room?
The room is 180 sq ft, and 180 ÷ 9 = 20 sq yd. Carpet is often sold by the square yard, so you would order at least 20 plus extra for waste.
How do I convert square yards back to square feet?
Multiply by 9. 50 sq yd is 450 sq ft. The reverse tool is the square yards to square feet calculator.
What about square meters?
The tool also shows square meters. 1,000 sq ft is 92.90 m², using a factor of 0.092903.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.