Convert Area from Hectares to Square Decimeters (ha to dm²)

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.

What is a Square Decimeter (dm²)?

A square decimeter (dm²) is a unit of area in the metric system.

It is equal to one-hundredth of a square meter (0.01 m²). The plural form is square decimeters.

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How Big is a Square Decimeter? Everyday Examples

The square decimeter is a practical unit for measuring things that are too big for square centimeters but too small for square meters. Think of it as a handy bridge between the two.

For example, the surface area of a small floor tile, a piece of A4 paper, or the screen of a tablet can be conveniently measured in square decimeters.

It's also frequently used in crafts like leatherwork and woodworking for measuring smaller pieces of material.

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How is a Square Decimeter Related to a Liter?

The square decimeter is also directly connected to volume—specifically, the liter.

Imagine a cube with a base of exactly one square decimeter (1 dm²) and a height of one decimeter (1 dm). The volume of this cube is one cubic decimeter (1 dm³), which is the exact definition of one liter.

This makes the square decimeter a helpful unit of measurement for visualizing the capacity of everyday items, such as a carton of milk or a water bottle.

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Square Decimeter Conversions (dm² to m² and cm²)

Converting the square decimeter to other metric units is very straightforward.

Here are the most common conversions:

• 1 square meter (m²) = 100 square decimeters (dm²)
• 1 square decimeter (dm²) = 100 square centimeters (cm²)