How many pyeong is 84 m²?

The conversion is 1 pyeong ≈ 3.3058 m², so 84 divided by 3.3058 is about 25.4 pyeong. That's the net area (exclusive-use area) of 84 m² converted straight to pyeong. But listings that call it '84 m² = 34 pyeong' are using the gross area (net plus shared space like stairs and corridors), not the net area. A net 84 m² apartment usually has a gross area around 112 to 115 m², which comes out to about 34 pyeong. So the same home is called both 25 pyeong net and 34 pyeong gross.

What is the difference between net area and gross area?

Net area (exclusive-use area) is the space inside your front door that you actually use—living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom. It's the basis for the registry and housing subscription, often called the 'real area'. Balconies are service area and aren't counted in the net area. Gross area (supply area) is the net area plus shared residential area (stairs, corridors, elevators used with other residents in the building), and it's usually the basis for the 'pyeong size' in listings. Officetels often use contract area—gross plus other shared area like parking and lobby—as the sale area, so the usable space can feel smaller for the same label.

What is the exclusive-use ratio, and why do apartments and officetels differ?

The exclusive-use ratio is net area divided by gross area, times 100. A higher ratio means more usable space for the same nominal size. Apartments are typically around 72 to 82 percent, while officetels are lower, around 40 to 55 percent. That's why the 'same 84 m²' can feel smaller in an officetel than an apartment. Exact figures vary by building and the law that applies, so it's most accurate to check each listing's net and gross area directly.

Why Is 84 m² Called Both 34 and 25 Pyeong? Net vs Gross Area Explained

Jul 5, 2026

Scroll through a property app in Korea and this moment arrives. A listing says "net 84 m², 34 pyeong," but when you convert 84 to pyeong yourself you get 25 pyeong. "It said 34—so why 25?" It's the same confusion when you're picturing whether your furniture will fit or how big an office really is.

Here's the bottom line. The same 84 m² is both 25 and 34 pyeong because two different areas—'net area' and 'gross area'—are each converted to pyeong. Once you know the difference and the pyeong-to-m² conversion, area numbers stop fooling you—on listings, moves, and leases alike. It's not hard; let's go step by step.

Note: this is a concept guide, not a tool pitch

Plenty of services already calculate pyeong and exclusive-use ratios. The point here isn't which tool is better—it's to make it easy to understand why the same area is named differently. Once the concept clicks, you can read the numbers correctly with any calculator. The pyeong (평) unit and the net/gross split described here follow South Korean real-estate practice; other countries use m² or sq ft and label areas differently.

The same 84 m² is 25 pyeong net, 34 pyeong gross — only the reference area differs.

First, the basics — how many m² is 1 pyeong?

There's just one starting point. 1 pyeong ≈ 3.3058 m². A pyeong is originally the area of a square about 1.818 m (6 ja) on each side, so precisely it's the fraction 400/121 m² (3.3058 is the rounded value). To go the other way, divide m² by 3.3058 to get pyeong.

Area (m²)	Pyeong (approx.)	Commonly called
59 m²	~17.8 pyeong	net 59, "24-pyeong" (gross basis)
74 m²	~22.4 pyeong	net 74, "29–30 pyeong"
84 m²	~25.4 pyeong	net 84, "34-pyeong" (the popular size)
114 m²	~34.5 pyeong	net 114, "45-pyeong" range

As the table shows, the m² converted straight to pyeong (net) and the pyeong size in the ad (gross) differ. That gap is exactly what the next section is about.

The heart of it — net area vs gross area

Area comes in several kinds depending on how much you count. The two you meet in daily life are net area and gross area.

NET AREA

The space you actually use — the "real area"

The space inside your front door that you use exclusively—living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom. It's the basis for the property registry and housing subscription, the closest thing to the "true" size, often called the real area. Note that balconies are 'service area' and aren't counted in the net area.

GROSS AREA

Net + shared space — the "sale area"

Net area plus shared residential area (stairs, corridors, elevators used with other residents in the building). The 'pyeong size' in listings is usually this gross area, which is why "34-pyeong" looks bigger than the real usable space.

BASE

Net area

rooms · living · kitchen

＋

Shared res.

stairs · halls · lift

＝

Gross area

the ad's "pyeong"

(＋other)

Contract area

parking · lobby too

Net → (+shared residential) Gross → (+other shared) Contract area

So that's why 84 m² is both 34 and 25 pyeong

Net 84 m² to pyeong = 84 ÷ 3.3058 ≈ 25.4 pyeong (space you actually use)
The same home's gross area is roughly 112–115 m²
Gross 115 m² to pyeong = 115 ÷ 3.3058 ≈ 34.8 pyeong → "34-pyeong" (the ad label)

The numbers aren't contradictory—they're just two areas with different scope, each converted to pyeong.

Exclusive-use ratio — why the same size feels different

One step further and you meet the exclusive-use ratio. It's net area over gross area: (net ÷ gross) × 100. A higher ratio means more usable space for the same nominal size—and it varies a lot by building type.

Apartment

~72–82%

Officetel

~40–55%

Ratio = (net ÷ gross) × 100 — varies by building

The "same 84 m²" can feel smaller in an officetel

Officetels tend to have a low exclusive-use ratio, so the same nominal area can give less usable space than an apartment. On top of that, officetels often use contract area—including other shared space like parking and lobby—as the sale area, widening the gap between the advertised size and what you actually use. So when you view a listing, don't look at the pyeong label alone—always check the net-area figure too.

Beyond real estate — where this comes in handy

Net and gross aren't only for house-hunting. A feel for switching between pyeong and m² shows up all over daily life.

Moving & interiors — whether furniture fits depends on the actual room size (net/measured), not the "pyeong" label. Converting m²↔pyeong helps you judge if a sofa or bed will fit.
Retail & office leases — if the leased area is on a gross basis, usable space changes with the exclusive-use ratio. Weigh rent against real usable area, ratio included.
Studios & officetels — how big an "X-pyeong studio" really is becomes clear once you convert the net area to pyeong.
Living abroad & imports — overseas listings use m² or sq ft. Converting to the familiar pyeong makes the size click.
Land, parking, storage — plots, parking bays, and storage mix m² and pyeong; standardizing to one unit makes comparison easy.

Want to check the numbers directly?

Once the concept clicks, you can convert pyeong↔m² right in the area tab of the unit converter. It includes a net/gross area note for when you're unsure, and it also converts other units like length, weight, and volume in one place. No install—it runs in your browser.

Wrap-up — don't read the pyeong label alone; check the net area

The same 84 m² being both 25 and 34 pyeong isn't an illusion—it was two different references (net vs gross area), each converted to pyeong. The space you actually use is the net area; the ad's pyeong size is usually the gross area. Add the exclusive-use ratio and you can gauge how differently the same size actually lives. To convert the numbers yourself, try pyeong↔m² in the unit converter.

For the official definitions of these area terms, you can check the exclusive/shared area standards in Korea's Housing Act and related rules on the national law portal. Specific areas vary by listing and complex, so confirming with the actual documents is most accurate.

Real size is told by the net area, not the pyeong label.

Frequently asked questions

: The conversion is 1 pyeong ≈ 3.3058 m², so 84 divided by 3.3058 is about 25.4 pyeong. That's the net area (exclusive-use area) of 84 m² converted straight to pyeong. But listings that call it '84 m² = 34 pyeong' are using the gross area (net plus shared space like stairs and corridors), not the net area. A net 84 m² apartment usually has a gross area around 112 to 115 m², which comes out to about 34 pyeong. So the same home is called both 25 pyeong net and 34 pyeong gross.
: Net area (exclusive-use area) is the space inside your front door that you actually use—living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom. It's the basis for the registry and housing subscription, often called the 'real area'. Balconies are service area and aren't counted in the net area. Gross area (supply area) is the net area plus shared residential area (stairs, corridors, elevators used with other residents in the building), and it's usually the basis for the 'pyeong size' in listings. Officetels often use contract area—gross plus other shared area like parking and lobby—as the sale area, so the usable space can feel smaller for the same label.
: The exclusive-use ratio is net area divided by gross area, times 100. A higher ratio means more usable space for the same nominal size. Apartments are typically around 72 to 82 percent, while officetels are lower, around 40 to 55 percent. That's why the 'same 84 m²' can feel smaller in an officetel than an apartment. Exact figures vary by building and the law that applies, so it's most accurate to check each listing's net and gross area directly.