square yards to square feet calculator
A square yards to square feet calculator multiplies by 9: 100 square yards is 900 square feet, or 83.61 square meters. Useful for carpet, sod and turf quotes.
Square yards to square feet calculator: multiply by 9
A square yards to square feet calculator multiplies the number of square yards by 9, because one square yard is a 3 ft by 3 ft square. 100 square yards is 900 square feet. The calculator also gives square meters, using 0.836127, so 100 square yards is 83.61 square meters.
Carpet, turf and sod are often priced in square yards. Your room measurements are in feet. This conversion links them.
The formula in plain words
Square feet = square yards × 9. Square meters = square yards × 0.836127. The 9 comes from 3 feet times 3 feet. It is not 3, because area scales with the square of the length.
Worked example, a carpet quote
A store quotes 25 square yards of carpet.
- Square feet: 25 × 9 = 225 sq ft
- Square meters: 25 × 0.836127 = 20.90 sq m
Compare that with your rooms. A living room 15 ft by 15 ft is 225 sq ft, so the quote covers it exactly, with nothing left for waste.
Worked example, a big turf order
A supplier lists artificial turf for a yard at 150 square yards.
- Square feet: 150 × 9 = 1,350 sq ft
- Square meters: 150 × 0.836127 = 125.42 sq m
Your yard measures 30 ft by 40 ft, which is 1,200 sq ft. The quote has 150 sq ft of extra turf, or 16.7 square yards, for cuts and waste.
Square yards, square feet and square meters
| Square yards | Square feet | Square meters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 0.84 |
| 10 | 90 | 8.36 |
| 25 | 225 | 20.90 |
| 50 | 450 | 41.81 |
| 100 | 900 | 83.61 |
| 200 | 1,800 | 167.23 |
| 500 | 4,500 | 418.06 |
How to measure and compare
- Measure the room in feet, length times width, and compare that to the converted figure.
- For an L-shaped room, split it into two rectangles and add.
- Include closets and alcoves that will get the same floor.
- Ask whether a quote includes waste and seams. Rolled goods come in fixed widths, so you may buy more than the room’s area.
- Convert in the same direction every time, to avoid mixing up units.
- Write both numbers on your quote sheet, for example 25 sq yd (225 sq ft), so you and the supplier are reading the same unit.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying by 3 instead of 9. That gives an answer one third of the right one.
- Mixing up square yards and cubic yards. They measure different things.
- Comparing a price per square yard with a price per square foot without converting. A $27 per square yard price is $3 per square foot.
- Forgetting waste. A room that is exactly 225 sq ft still needs extra for seams and pattern matching.
- Rounding too early. Keep the decimals until the end.
Where you see square yards
Carpet is the common one, and sod and artificial turf are often priced the same way. Some paving, seal-coating and painting estimates also list square yards. A price per square yard is nine times a price per square foot, so $27 per square yard equals $3.00 per square foot.
To order from a room’s dimensions, work in feet and convert at the end. A 12 ft by 15 ft room is 180 sq ft. Divided by 9, that is 20 square yards. Add extra for seams and pattern matching, then check how wide the roll is, since carpet comes in fixed widths and the offcut counts toward the order.
A quick mental check
Nine is easy to hold in your head. Ten square yards is about 90 square feet, so 100 square yards sits near 900. If a quote for a 180 sq ft room says 60 square yards, you know something is wrong, since 180 ÷ 9 is 20. A quick check like this catches the most common error, which is a unit that was never converted.
Related pages
To go the other way, use the square feet to square yards calculator. The carpet calculator sizes a whole carpet job, and the square feet to square meters calculator handles the metric side.
Frequently asked questions
Why does 1 square yard equal 9 square feet?
A yard is 3 feet, so a square yard is 3 ft by 3 ft. That square contains 3 × 3 = 9 square feet. It is the length conversion squared, which is why you multiply by 9 and not by 3.
Why is carpet sold in square yards?
It is the long-standing unit for carpet and some other rolled goods in the United States. Rooms are measured in feet, so you convert between the two. Many retailers also list a price per square foot.
How do I convert square feet back to square yards?
Divide by 9. A 180 sq ft room is 180 ÷ 9 = 20 square yards. The square feet to square yards calculator does that, and it is the one to use when you need to order carpet.
Does this work for irregular rooms?
Yes, once you know the area. Break an L-shaped room into rectangles, find each area, add them, and convert the total. The conversion works on any area, whatever its shape.
What is the difference between square yards and cubic yards?
Square yards measure surface area, like a floor. Cubic yards measure volume, like a pile of soil or a concrete pour. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and a square yard is 9 square feet.
How many square meters is a square yard?
One square yard is 0.836127 square meters. The calculator shows this, so 100 square yards is 83.61 square meters.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.