Calculators & everyday math
Acres vs. Hectares: Measuring Land
Land is measured in acres in some places and hectares in others, with square miles and square kilometers for larger areas. This guide compares all four and gives a feel for how big each one is.
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The units compared
| Unit | Square meters | Equivalents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 acre | 4,046.8564224 | 43,560 ft² · 0.4046856422 ha |
| 1 hectare | 10,000 | 2.471053815 acres · 107,639.1042 ft² |
| 1 square mile | 2,589,988.110336 | 640 acres · 258.998811 ha |
| 1 square kilometer | 1,000,000 | 100 ha · 247.1053815 acres |
Picturing the sizes
- A hectare is a square 100 meters on each side.
- An acre is about 208.7 feet on each side if it is square, though an acre can be any shape.
- An acre is a little smaller than an American football field without the end zones, which is 48,000 square feet.
- A square mile holds exactly 640 acres.
Where each unit is used
Hectares are used for land and farming in most countries. Acres remain common in the United States and the United Kingdom. The acre is traditionally described as the land a team of oxen could plough in a day, but today it is defined exactly as 43,560 square feet.
Acres vs. Hectares FAQ
- How many acres are in a hectare?
- About 2.471053815.
- How many hectares are in an acre?
- About 0.4046856422.
- How many acres are in a square mile?
- Exactly 640.
- How big is an acre in feet?
- 43,560 square feet — a square about 208.7 feet on each side, or any other shape with that area.
- Is a hectare bigger than an acre?
- Yes, about 2.47 times bigger.
Related guides
- Square Feet vs. Square MetersConvert room and home sizes between square feet and square meters, work out an area from its dimensions, and estimate quickly in your head.
- Squared Area FactorsWhy a square meter is 10.76 square feet rather than 3.28, the classic mistake it causes, and how the same idea makes volume factors cubed.
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