1 centiare equals exactly
1 square meter
The centiare (ca) is the smallest of the traditional agrarian units of measurement, and corresponds exactly to one square meter: the prefix 'centi' indicates one hundredth of an are (and an are equals 100 m², so one hundredth of an are is 1 m²). Although the value seems trivial, the term often causes confusion because it is not widely known.
To convert a measurement from centiares to square meters, the value does not change, since the two units are equivalent:
Likewise, to convert from square meters to centiares:
Those reading an Italian cadastral survey for the first time often come across areas expressed in the 'ha are ca' format (hectares, ares, centiares): for example, a plot of '00.15.30' means 0 hectares, 15 ares, and 30 centiares, i.e. 1,530 m² in total. Understanding that a centiare equals 1 m² is the fundamental step to correctly interpreting these documents.