Convert Area from Acres to Hectares (ac to ha)

What is an Acre (ac)?

An acre (ac) is a common unit of area used to measure land in the United States and the United Kingdom.

It is equal to exactly 43,560 square feet.

Because it can be hard to picture that size, this guide breaks down the acre's origins, dimensions, and how it compares to other units.

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An Acre at a Glance:

• Size in Square Feet: 43,560 sq ft
• Size in Yards: 4,840 sq yd
• Comparison: Covers about 75% of an American football field.
• Metric Equivalent: About 0.404 hectares.

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Where Did the Acre Come From?

The acre has deep roots in agriculture. Historically, it was defined as the amount of land that one person with a single ox could plow in one day.

This practical, work-based unit was measured as an area one "furlong" long (660 feet) by one "chain" wide (66 feet).

This origin explains why the acre became a standard for land measurement long before modern units were adopted.

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What Are the Dimensions of an Acre?

Many people ask about the dimensions of an acre, but because it's a measure of area, it has no required shape or specific length.

While it equals 43,560 square feet, it doesn't have to be a perfect square. An acre can be a long rectangle, an L-shape, or even a circle—as long as the total area adds up.

To help you visualize an acre, imagine a standard American football field, including the end zones. One football field is about 1.32 acres, which means a single acre would cover about three-quarters of it.

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How Does an Acre Compare to a Hectare?

While the acre is standard in the US, most of the world uses the hectare, a metric unit of land measurement.

This difference is crucial for anyone working in international real estate, agriculture, or science.

Here's a simple acre to hectare conversion:

• 1 hectare = 10,000 square meters
• 1 hectare = approximately 2.47 acres

What is a Hectare (ha)?

A hectare (ha) is a unit used to measure area in the metric system. In simple terms, one hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters.

It's primarily used for measuring large plots of land, making it a standard unit for agriculture, forestry, and urban planning worldwide.

For a quick conversion:

• 1 hectare = 10,000 square meters
• 1 hectare = 2.47 acres

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How Big is a Hectare?

It can be tricky to picture a unit of measurement.

The easiest way to understand the size of a hectare is to imagine a square with sides that are 100 meters long. The area inside that square is exactly one hectare (100 m × 100 m = 10,000 m²).

Visualizing a Hectare: Real-World Examples

To put the size of a hectare into perspective, think about these common examples:

• An international rugby field is almost exactly one hectare in size.
• A professional soccer (football) pitch is slightly smaller, at around 0.71 hectares.
• It would take about 15 American football fields to cover one hectare.
• New York City's Times Square is approximately 1.1 hectares in size.

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Hectare vs. Acre: What's the Difference?

The hectare and the acre are both units used to measure land, but they belong to different measurement systems and are not the same size.

The most significant difference is that the hectare is a metric unit, while the acre is part of the imperial system.

• Hectare: A metric unit equal to 10,000 square meters.
• Acre: An imperial unit equal to 4,840 square yards (or about 4,047 square meters).

A hectare is significantly larger than an acre. One hectare is equal to about 2.47 acres.

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Where is the Hectare Used Globally?

While not an official SI unit, the hectare is the only named unit of area that is accepted for use with the International System of Units.

It is a primary measurement for land in legal and commercial contexts throughout most of the world, particularly in:

• The European Union
• Australia
• Canada
• Most of Asia and Africa

Its widespread adoption makes it a universal standard for land measurement. The major exception is the United States, which primarily uses the acre.