Square Kilometer to Square Meter Converter

A square kilometer (km²) is a unit of area equal to the area of a square with sides of one kilometer each. It equals 1,000,000 square meters or 100 hectares, making it suitable for measuring large geographical areas.

The square kilometer emerged naturally from the metric system established during the French Revolution in 1795. As the kilometer became standardized for distance measurement, its square became the logical unit for large area measurements, particularly useful for mapping territories and countries.

Square kilometers are universally used for measuring countries, states, cities, large properties, national parks, and geographical features. They're standard in atlases, geographic surveys, urban planning, and environmental studies. Most countries report their total area in square kilometers.

A square meter (m²) is the SI base unit of area, equal to the area of a square with sides of one meter each. It serves as the fundamental unit from which all other metric area measurements are derived.

The square meter was established alongside the meter during the French Revolution in 1795 as part of the metric system. As the meter became the base unit of length, its square naturally became the base unit of area. It was officially adopted as part of the International System of Units (SI) in 1960.

Square meters are universally used for measuring floor areas, room sizes, small properties, construction materials, and in scientific applications. They're standard in architecture, construction, real estate listings, and manufacturing. Most building codes and construction specifications use square meters.