Hectare to Square Centimeter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert hectares to square centimeters with our free online area converter.
Hectare to Square Centimeter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Hectare).
- The converted value in Square Centimeter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Area category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Hectare to Square Centimeter
Converting Hectare to Square Centimeter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Hectare = 100000000 square centimetersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 hectares: 10 × 100000000 = 1000000000 square centimeters
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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What is a Hectare and a Square Centimeter?
The hectare (symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters (m²). It is primarily used in the measurement of land. One hectare represents the area of a square with 100-meter sides.
It is equivalent to:
- 1 square hectometer (hm²)
- 100 ares (where 1 are = 100 m²)
- 0.01 square kilometers (km²)
- Approximately 2.471 acres
- Approximately 107,639 square feet (ft²)
The name "hectare" combines the metric prefix hecto- (meaning "hundred") with the unit are.
The square centimeter (symbol: cm² or sometimes sq cm) is a unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one centimeter in length.
One square centimeter is equal to:
- 1/10,000 of a square meter (m²)
- 100 square millimeters (mm²)
- Approximately 0.155 square inches (in²)
It is a derived SI unit, formed by squaring the SI base unit of length, the meter (via the centimeter).
Note: The Hectare is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Square Centimeter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Hectare and Square Centimeter
- Origin (French Revolution): The base unit, the are, was defined in 1795 as 100 square meters as part of the new metric system established during the French Revolution. The hectare ("hundred ares") was created alongside it as a larger, more practical unit for land measurement.
- Adoption: While the are saw some use, the hectare quickly became the preferred metric unit for land transactions and agricultural measurements due to its convenient size, bridging the gap between the square meter and the square kilometer.
- International Recognition: The hectare was adopted by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) in 1879. Although the are fell out of favor, the hectare gained widespread international acceptance.
- Status with SI: While the official SI unit of area is the square meter (m²), the hectare is explicitly accepted for use with the International System of Units (SI). Its continued use is recognized due to its global importance in land measurement, agriculture, and forestry.
- Metric System Origins: The concept of the square centimeter naturally arose with the establishment of the metric system during the late 18th century in France. As the centimeter (one-hundredth of a meter) was defined as a convenient subunit of length, the square centimeter became the corresponding unit for small areas.
- SI Adoption: With the formalization of the International System of Units (SI) in the mid-20th century, the square meter (m²) was established as the coherent derived unit for area. The square centimeter (cm²), as a direct subdivision (1 cm² = 10⁻⁴ m²), is an accepted SI unit commonly used for measuring smaller areas where the square meter would be impractically large.
Common Uses for hectares and square centimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Hectare (imperial/US) and Square Centimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for hectares
The hectare is the principal metric unit for land area measurement in many fields globally:
- Agriculture: Standard unit worldwide for measuring farm sizes, field areas, crop yields, and agricultural statistics (e.g., FAO reports).
- Forestry: Used for measuring forest extents, logging areas, and managing timber resources.
- Urban Planning and Land Management: Employed in zoning regulations, measuring park sizes, planning large-scale developments, and conducting environmental impact assessments across most metricated nations.
- Real Estate: The standard unit for large land parcels in most countries (though acres may persist alongside it in some Commonwealth nations transitioning from imperial).
- International Law and Treaties: Often used in legal definitions of land boundaries and resource allocation agreements (e.g., within the European Union).
Common Uses for square centimeters
The square centimeter is frequently used for measuring relatively small surface areas across various fields:
- Science: Measuring the surface area of small biological samples (like leaves or petri dishes), cross-sectional areas in physics and materials science, and quantifying reaction surfaces in chemistry.
- Medical Imaging: Commonly used to report the area of skin lesions, wounds, organ cross-sections, or regions of interest in MRI, CT, or ultrasound scans.
- Education: A fundamental unit in teaching geometry, area calculation, and understanding metric conversions in schools.
- Manufacturing & Design: Specifying the area of small components, electronic parts (like integrated circuits), adhesive patches, or surface coating requirements.
- Photography: Sometimes used informally to refer to the approximate size of smaller image sensors.
- Retail & Labeling: Used on packaging to indicate the size of small items like stickers, patches, or fabric samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Hectare (ha)
How large is a hectare visually?
A hectare is 10,000 square meters. A square hectare is 100 meters by 100 meters. For comparison:
- It's slightly smaller than an international rugby union pitch (max 100m x 70m = 7,000 m²).
- It's about 1.4 times the size of a standard FIFA football (soccer) pitch (recommended 105m x 68m = 7,140 m²).
- London's Trafalgar Square is roughly one hectare in area.
- An American football field (including end zones) is about 0.535 hectares.
How many square meters are in a hectare?
There are exactly 10,000 square meters (m²) in one hectare (ha).
What is an "are" and how does it relate to a hectare?
The are (symbol: a) is another metric unit of area defined as 100 square meters (a square 10 meters by 10 meters). It was part of the original metric system. A hectare is equal to 100 ares. The are itself is rarely used today, but the hectare remains very common.
How many acres are in a hectare?
One hectare is approximately 2.471 acres. To convert hectares to acres, multiply by 2.471. Conversely, 1 acre is about 0.4047 hectares.
How many hectares are in a square kilometer?
There are exactly 100 hectares in one square kilometer (km²). This is because 1 km² = 1,000,000 m² and 1 ha = 10,000 m², so 1,000,000 / 10,000 = 100.
Is the hectare an official SI unit?
No, the hectare (ha) is not a base or derived unit within the International System of Units (SI). The SI unit for area is the square meter (m²). However, the hectare is listed by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) as a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI due to its widespread practical importance, particularly in land measurement.
About Square Centimeter (cm²)
How small is a square centimeter visually?
One square centimeter is the area of a square 1 cm by 1 cm. This is roughly:
- The size of the nail on an adult human index finger.
- Slightly smaller than a standard US postage stamp.
- About the size of one face of a standard six-sided die.
How many square millimeters (mm²) are in a square centimeter (cm²)?
There are exactly 100 square millimeters (mm²) in one square centimeter (cm²). This is because 1 cm = 10 mm, so 1 cm² = (10 mm) × (10 mm) = 100 mm².
How many square centimeters (cm²) are in a square meter (m²)?
There are exactly 10,000 square centimeters (cm²) in one square meter (m²). This is because 1 m = 100 cm, so 1 m² = (100 cm) × (100 cm) = 10,000 cm².
How do you convert square centimeters (cm²) to square inches (in²)?
To convert square centimeters to square inches, multiply the value in cm² by approximately 0.155. For example, 10 cm² is roughly 1.55 in². Conversely, 1 square inch is approximately 6.4516 square centimeters.
Is the square centimeter (cm²) an SI unit?
Yes, the square centimeter (cm²) is a derived unit of area within the International System of Units (SI). While the coherent SI unit for area is the square meter (m²), the cm² (equal to 10⁻⁴ m²) is formed using an accepted SI prefix (centi-) and is widely used for convenience when measuring smaller areas.
When is cm² used instead of m²?
Square centimeters (cm²) are preferred when measuring areas significantly smaller than one square meter, where using m² would result in very small decimal numbers (e.g., 0.005 m²). It offers a more convenient scale for objects like small electronic components, biological samples, or details in medical images.
Conversion Table: Hectare to Square Centimeter
| Hectare (ha) | Square Centimeter (cm²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100,000,000 |
| 5 | 500,000,000 |
| 10 | 1,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 2,500,000,000 |
| 50 | 5,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 10,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 50,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 100,000,000,000 |