How Big Is a Turkish Square Meter?

How Big Is a Turkish Square Meter?

At first glance, the concept of a square meter seems straightforward. But in Turkey, things aren’t always as simple as they appear.

What Is a Square Meter?

According to Wikipedia, a square meter is the area of a square with sides measuring exactly one meter. For those who love details: one square meter equals 0.000001 square kilometers or 10,000 square centimeters.

But here’s the catch: a Turkish square meter doesn’t always match its European counterpart.

Why the Discrepancy?

We’ve noticed that floor plans for properties in Turkey often seem exaggerated. A two-bedroom apartment listed as 150 square meters might actually feel closer to 100 square meters when you visit in person. So, what’s going on?

There are a few reasons for this:

• No Standardized Measurement: In Turkey, there’s no legal standard for how square meters are calculated. Developers and builders use their own methods, and while misrepresenting sizes is illegal, common areas like stairwells, hallways, elevator shafts, and service ducts are often included in the total square meter count.
• Lack of Regulation for Estate Agents: Agents aren’t held to a strict standard when providing size information. While public records exist, accessing them is bureaucratic and often impractical. Additionally, buildings sometimes differ from their approved plans, making official figures unreliable.

As a result, the numbers you see are often approximate—and usually on the generous side.

What Can You Do?

• For Existing Properties: Always visit the property yourself. Seeing it in person is the best way to judge its true size.
• For Off-Plan Apartments: Request detailed floor plans with wall-to-wall measurements. This allows you to calculate the actual size before committing. Make sure the agreed-upon size is included in your purchase contract, with a clause for compensation if the final size falls short.
• Avoid Being Misled: Don’t be swayed by impressively large numbers on paper. What matters is the actual space you’ll get.

Our Approach at 2Base

We strive to provide accurate and transparent information. For off-plan projects, we rely on the developer’s figures, but we encourage you to view them as estimates rather than absolutes. We typically use a \"gross\" measurement that includes livable space plus balconies. Additionally, we create our own floor plans for every property we sell.

If you have any questions about the square meter figures on our website, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

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