Hectare to Square Centimeter Converter
Convert hectares to square centimeters with our free online area converter.
Quick Answer
1 Hectare = 100000000 square centimeters
Formula: Hectare × conversion factor = Square Centimeter
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Hectare to Square Centimeter Calculator
How to Use the Hectare to Square Centimeter 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: Step-by-Step Guide
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.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other area units?
View all Area conversions →What is a Hectare and a Square Centimeter?
and Standards
The hectare is defined as an area of exactly 10,000 square meters:
1 ha = 10,000 m² = 100 m × 100 m
Precise Equivalents
- 1 ha = 10,000 m² (exactly, by definition)
- 1 ha = 0.01 km² = 1/100 square kilometer (exactly)
- 1 ha = 100 ares (where 1 are = 100 m²)
- 1 ha = 1 hm² (square hectometer)
- 1 ha = 2.47105 acres (US survey/international)
- 1 ha = 107,639.1 square feet
- 1 ha = 11,959.9 square yards
- 1 ha = 15,500,000 square inches
The hectare derives from the are (symbol: a), a rarely used metric unit defined as 100 m². The prefix hecto- means "hundred," so hectare literally means "hundred ares."
SI Status
The hectare is not an official SI unit—the SI unit of area is the square meter (m²). However, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) explicitly lists the hectare as a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI in its SI Brochure, recognizing its overwhelming practical importance in land measurement globally.
Metric Prefixes and Multiples
While technically compatible with metric prefixes, only a few are used in practice:
- Decare (daa) = 0.1 ha = 1,000 m² (used in some Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries)
- Hectare (ha) = 1 ha = 10,000 m² (standard unit)
- Square kilometer (km²) = 100 ha (preferred for very large areas)
The centiare (1 m²) and are (100 m²) exist theoretically but are rarely used today.
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.
Key relationships:
- 1 cm² = 1 centimeter × 1 centimeter
- 1 cm² = 100 square millimeters (mm²) (since 1 cm = 10 mm)
- 1 cm² = 0.0001 square meters (m²) or 1/10,000 m²
- 1 cm² ≈ 0.155 square inches (in²)
- 10,000 cm² = 1 square meter
Visual perspective (how big is it?):
- 1 cm² = Size of an adult fingernail
- 5 cm² = Large coin (quarter)
- 10 cm² = Large postage stamp
- 50 cm² = Standard credit card
- 100 cm² = Smartphone screen
- 1,000 cm² = Tablet screen or small notebook
It is a derived SI unit, formed by squaring the SI base unit of length, the meter (via the centimeter).
Convert between area units: cm² converter
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
and Evolution
The French Revolution and the Birth of the Metric System (1790s)
The hectare emerged from the revolutionary fervor of 1790s France. The French Revolution sought to overthrow not only the monarchy but also the chaotic patchwork of traditional measurement units that varied by region, trade, and lord. Land measurement was particularly inconsistent: the arpent varied from 34 to 51 ares depending on locality, and dozens of other regional land units created confusion and inequity.
In 1795, the revolutionary government adopted the metric system, including the are as the fundamental unit of land area, defined as 100 square meters (a square 10 meters on each side). The hectare ("hundred ares") was immediately created as a larger, more practical unit for agricultural land, equal to 10,000 square meters—a square 100 meters on each side.
The Triumph of the Hectare over the Are (19th Century)
While the are was the official base unit, it proved awkwardly small for practical agriculture and forestry. A typical farm field might be dozens or hundreds of ares. The hectare, by contrast, was the perfect size: small enough to measure individual fields precisely, large enough to describe farm sizes conveniently. Within decades, the hectare became the dominant unit, and the are faded into obscurity.
Key milestone: In 1879, the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) formally adopted the hectare for international use, cementing its status as the global standard for land measurement.
Global Metrication: The Hectare Spreads Worldwide (1800s-1900s)
As the metric system spread from France across Europe, Latin America, and eventually Asia and Africa, the hectare went with it:
- 1800s: Adopted across continental Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Scandinavia)
- 1900-1950: Latin American countries metricated (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile)
- 1950-1980: Post-colonial nations in Africa and Asia adopted the metric system, including the hectare (India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya)
- 1970s: Australia and New Zealand officially switched from acres to hectares
- 1980s-present: Even partially metricated countries like Canada and the UK increasingly use hectares for official land statistics
Modern status: As of 2025, the hectare is the primary land measurement unit in over 170 countries, representing more than 95% of the world's population and land area.
Notable Holdouts and Hybrid Systems
United States: Continues to use acres almost exclusively for land measurement, despite metrication in science and industry.
United Kingdom: Officially metricated in the 1990s, but acres persist in casual speech, real estate listings, and tradition. Government statistics use hectares, while property advertisements often show both units.
Myanmar: Uses traditional Burmese land units alongside acres; hectares are rare.
Canada: Officially metricated (hectares), but older Canadians and rural areas often still reference acres informally.
The Hectare in International Agriculture and Forestry
By the mid-20th century, international organizations standardized on the hectare:
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization): Reports global agricultural data in hectares
- World Bank: Land area statistics in hectares
- IPCC and climate science: Forest cover, deforestation, and carbon storage measured in hectares
- International land treaties: Boundary agreements, protected areas, and resource rights defined in hectares
The hectare's dominance in these domains ensures its continued relevance even in non-metric countries, where professionals in agriculture, forestry, and environmental science routinely convert between acres and hectares.
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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 (1790s). 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.
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Educational Adoption: Throughout the 19th century, as schools adopted metric education, the square centimeter became fundamental for teaching geometry, area calculation, and spatial reasoning. Its convenient size made it ideal for classroom demonstrations and student measurements.
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Scientific Standardization: By the early 20th century, scientific disciplines adopted cm² as the standard for reporting:
- Biological surface areas (leaves, petri dishes, cell cultures)
- Cross-sectional areas in physics experiments
- Material science surface measurements
- Laboratory specimen documentation
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SI Adoption: With the formalization of the International System of Units (SI) in 1960, 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.
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Medical Usage: The medical field adopted cm² as the standard for documenting:
- Wound sizes and healing progress
- Lesion dimensions
- Organ cross-sections in imaging
- Surgical site measurements
- Body surface area calculations
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Modern Applications: Today, cm² remains essential in education, medicine, electronics manufacturing, and any application requiring precise measurement of small surfaces. Its human-scale size (fingernail-sized unit) makes it intuitive and practical.
Common Uses and Applications: hectares vs square centimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Hectare (imperial/US) and Square Centimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for hectares
1. Agriculture: Farm Sizes and Crop Yields
The hectare is the universal standard for agricultural land measurement worldwide (except in the US). Farm sizes, field areas, crop yields, and agricultural statistics are expressed in hectares.
Crop yields are standardized as metric tons per hectare (t/ha) or kilograms per hectare (kg/ha):
- Wheat: 3-10 t/ha (depending on region and farming intensity)
- Rice: 4-8 t/ha
- Corn (maize): 8-15 t/ha
- Soybeans: 2-5 t/ha
Example: A 50-hectare wheat farm yielding 5 t/ha produces 250 metric tons of wheat annually.
2. Forestry: Timber Yields and Forest Management
Forestry professionals measure forest areas, logging concessions, reforestation projects, and timber yields in hectares.
Timber yield is expressed as cubic meters per hectare (m³/ha):
- Temperate softwood forest: 150-400 m³/ha
- Tropical rainforest: 200-600 m³/ha
- Boreal forest: 80-200 m³/ha
Example: A sustainable logging operation might harvest 5 m³/ha/year from a 1,000-hectare forest, yielding 5,000 m³ of timber annually.
3. Urban Planning: Zoning and Development
Urban planners use hectares to measure development sites, zoning areas, and infrastructure projects. Residential density is often expressed as dwellings per hectare (dw/ha) or persons per hectare (pp/ha).
Typical densities:
- Suburban single-family: 10-25 dw/ha
- Urban townhouses: 30-60 dw/ha
- Mid-rise apartments: 100-200 dw/ha
- High-rise urban core: 300-1,000+ dw/ha
Example: A 20-hectare mixed-use development with an average density of 80 dw/ha would contain 1,600 dwellings.
4. Real Estate: Land Sales and Property Listings
In metricated countries, land parcels are listed in hectares. Small properties (under 1 ha) may be listed in square meters, while large rural properties use hectares.
Example listing: "50-hectare vineyard estate in Tuscany, fully planted, irrigation, farmhouse included."
In hybrid countries like the UK and Canada, listings often show both units: "25 hectares (62 acres)."
5. Environmental Science: Protected Areas and Deforestation
Conservation organizations, national parks, and environmental treaties use hectares to define protected areas, measure deforestation, and calculate carbon storage.
Carbon storage in forests is measured as metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per hectare (tCO₂e/ha):
- Tropical rainforest: 200-600 tCO₂e/ha
- Temperate forest: 100-300 tCO₂e/ha
- Boreal forest: 50-150 tCO₂e/ha
Example: Protecting 10,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest prevents release of ~4,000,000 metric tons of CO₂.
6. International Development and Food Security
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank, and UN agencies report agricultural land, arable land per capita, and food production in hectares.
Arable land per capita (global average): ~0.19 ha per person (2025)
- High: Australia ~1.9 ha/person, Canada ~1.2 ha/person
- Low: Bangladesh ~0.05 ha/person, China ~0.08 ha/person
Food security context: Feeding one person for a year requires approximately 0.2-0.3 ha of arable land (depending on diet and farming intensity).
When to Use square centimeters
The square centimeter is frequently used for measuring relatively small surface areas across various fields:
Medical Imaging & Healthcare
Reporting area measurements in medical diagnostics and treatment. Essential for standardized documentation across hospitals globally.
Why cm² in medicine:
- International standard (metric system)
- Appropriate scale for human body measurements
- Easy to visualize (fingernail = 1 cm²)
- Facilitates calculation of treatment doses
- Enables tracking of healing/growth
Common medical uses:
- Wound healing documentation
- Lesion size tracking
- Surgical site mapping
- Burn area assessment (rule of nines uses percentages, but detailed mapping uses cm²)
- Organ cross-sections in imaging
- Body surface area calculations
Convert for medical records: cm² to in²
Education & Learning
A fundamental unit in teaching geometry, area calculation, and understanding metric conversions in schools worldwide.
Educational advantages:
- Visible, tangible size (like a fingernail)
- Works well with grid paper (1cm squares)
- Bridges mm² and m² scales
- Simple conversion factors (100, 10,000)
- Develops spatial reasoning
Classroom applications:
- Area calculation exercises
- Shape comparisons
- Scale drawing practice
- Unit conversion lessons
- Real-world measurement projects
Manufacturing & Design
Specifying the area of small components, electronic parts, adhesive patches, or surface coating requirements.
Manufacturing specifications:
- Component footprints on PCBs
- Adhesive bond areas
- Surface coating coverage
- Quality control measurements
- Material usage calculations
Design applications:
- Product dimensions
- Packaging sizes
- Label areas
- Material requirements
Science & Research
Measuring surface areas of biological samples, cross-sectional areas in physics, and reaction surfaces in chemistry.
Scientific applications:
- Leaf area measurements (photosynthesis research)
- Cell culture flask surfaces
- Petri dish areas
- Microscope slide coverage
- Experimental surface documentation
Why scientists use cm²:
- Standard in scientific literature
- Compatible with lab equipment scales
- Easy metric conversions
- International communication
Use our area converter for scientific calculations.
Retail & Packaging
Labeling small items like stickers, patches, or fabric samples for consumer information.
Product labeling:
- Fabric swatch sizes
- Sticker dimensions
- Patch sizes (clothing, adhesive)
- Small packaging areas
- Label specifications
Additional Unit Information
About Hectare (ha)
How large is a hectare visually?
A hectare is 10,000 square meters, or a square 100 meters on each side.
Visual comparisons:
- 1.4 FIFA soccer fields (a standard soccer pitch is ~7,140 m², so 1 ha ≈ 1.4 pitches)
- Slightly larger than a rugby union pitch (max 100m × 70m = 7,000 m²)
- About 2.5 times an American football field (with end zones: ~5,350 m²)
- Trafalgar Square, London is approximately 1 hectare
Walking it: Walking around the perimeter of a 1-hectare square (400 meters total) takes about 5 minutes at a normal pace.
Running it: A 100m × 100m square has a perimeter of 400 meters—exactly the distance of a standard running track lap.
How many square meters are in a hectare?
Exactly 10,000 square meters (m²) in one hectare.
Formula: m² = ha × 10,000
Examples:
- 0.1 ha = 1,000 m²
- 1 ha = 10,000 m²
- 5 ha = 50,000 m²
- 100 ha = 1,000,000 m² = 1 km²
What is an "are" and how does it relate to a hectare?
The are (symbol: a) is a metric unit of area defined as 100 square meters—a square 10 meters on each side.
Relationship: 1 hectare = 100 ares
The are was the original base unit of land measurement in the metric system (1795), but the hectare (100 ares) proved more practical for actual use. Today, the are is obsolete in most countries, though it persists in legal documents and some rural areas of France and Switzerland.
Related unit: The decare (daa) = 10 ares = 1,000 m² = 0.1 ha, still used in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and some Middle Eastern countries.
How many acres are in a hectare?
One hectare equals approximately 2.47105 acres (or more precisely, 2.4710538 acres).
Formula: acres = ha × 2.47105
Common conversions:
- 1 ha = 2.47 acres
- 10 ha = 24.71 acres
- 100 ha = 247.1 acres
- 0.5 ha = 1.24 acres
Reverse: 1 acre = 0.4047 hectares
Memory aid: "A hectare is about two and a half acres."
How many hectares are in a square kilometer?
Exactly 100 hectares in one square kilometer.
Formula: ha = km² × 100
Why: 1 km² = 1,000 m × 1,000 m = 1,000,000 m². And 1 ha = 10,000 m². So 1,000,000 ÷ 10,000 = 100.
Examples:
- 0.01 km² = 1 ha
- 0.5 km² = 50 ha
- 1 km² = 100 ha
- 10 km² = 1,000 ha
Large areas: For areas over ~10,000 ha (100 km²), square kilometers become more convenient than hectares.
Is the hectare an official SI unit?
No, the hectare is not an official SI base or derived unit. The SI unit for area is the square meter (m²), and strictly speaking, large areas should be measured in square kilometers (km²).
However, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) explicitly lists the hectare as a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI in the SI Brochure (9th edition, 2019). This recognition acknowledges the hectare's overwhelming global practical importance in agriculture, forestry, and land management.
In practice: Scientific papers, government statistics, and international organizations freely use hectares alongside SI units, and it is universally understood in metric contexts.
Why do some countries still use acres instead of hectares?
United States: Never fully metricated; acres are deeply embedded in property law, surveying, real estate, and agricultural tradition. US land is subdivided based on the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), which uses miles, chains, and acres.
United Kingdom: Officially metricated in 1995, but public resistance and tradition mean acres persist in real estate, rural communities, and casual speech. Government reports use hectares, but property listings often show both units.
Historical inertia: Countries that metricated recently (post-1970) often have older generations and established industries (especially real estate and agriculture) that resist change. The UK and Canada show gradual transitions, while the US shows little movement toward hectares.
Practical impact: Professionals working internationally (agriculture, forestry, climate science) routinely convert between acres and hectares, regardless of domestic preference.
How many hectares does it take to feed one person?
This depends on diet and farming intensity:
Vegetarian/low-meat diet (efficient):
- Intensive agriculture (e.g., modern wheat, rice): 0.15-0.20 ha per person
- Organic/lower-input farming: 0.25-0.35 ha per person
High-meat diet (less efficient due to feed conversion):
- Intensive agriculture: 0.35-0.50 ha per person
- Extensive/grassland-based: 0.50-1.00+ ha per person
Global average: Approximately 0.20-0.25 ha of arable land per person is needed to provide a balanced diet (2,500 kcal/day) with moderate meat consumption using modern farming practices.
Current reality: Global arable land per capita is about 0.19 ha per person (2025), down from ~0.38 ha in 1961 due to population growth. Higher yields per hectare have compensated, preventing widespread famine.
How do I measure the hectares of an irregular-shaped property?
Modern methods use GPS and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to calculate areas of irregular parcels precisely:
Method 1: GPS boundary walk
- Walk or drive the perimeter with a GPS receiver
- Software calculates area from GPS coordinates
- Accuracy: ±0.5-2% depending on GPS quality
Method 2: Satellite imagery and GIS software
- Import satellite images or cadastral maps into GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Pro)
- Trace the boundary polygon
- Software calculates area in hectares
Method 3: Traditional surveying
- Professional land surveyor measures property using theodolite or total station
- Calculates area using coordinate geometry
- Accuracy: ±0.1% or better (legal surveys)
Method 4: Decomposition into simpler shapes
- Divide irregular property into rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids
- Measure each section's dimensions
- Calculate each area and sum them
Example: A property approximated as a large rectangle (300m × 200m = 60,000 m²) plus a triangular section (base 100m, height 50m = 2,500 m²) totals 62,500 m² = 6.25 hectares.
How many soccer fields fit in a hectare?
A standard FIFA soccer pitch has recommended dimensions of 105 meters × 68 meters = 7,140 m².
Calculation: 10,000 m² (1 ha) ÷ 7,140 m² (1 pitch) = 1.40 soccer fields per hectare
Or inversely: 1 soccer field ≈ 0.714 hectares
Note: FIFA allows pitch dimensions from 100-110m length and 64-75m width, so actual pitches vary from ~6,400 m² to ~8,250 m². The 105m × 68m size is the international standard recommendation.
Other comparisons:
- Rugby union pitch (max 100m × 70m): 0.70 ha, so ~1.43 per hectare
- American football field (with end zones, 109.7m × 48.8m): 0.535 ha, so ~1.87 per hectare
What is a "section" in acres and hectares?
A section is a unit of land area used in the United States Public Land Survey System (PLSS) and Canadian Dominion Land Survey (DLS).
Definition: 1 section = 1 square mile = 640 acres = 259 hectares (approximately 258.9988 ha precisely)
Sections divide townships (36 sections per township, each section 1 mile × 1 mile). US and Canadian rural land is often described in sections, half-sections (320 acres / 129.5 ha), or quarter-sections (160 acres / 64.75 ha).
Example: "I own the southwest quarter-section of Section 16" means 160 acres or about 64.75 hectares.
How many hectares is a typical golf course?
Golf course sizes vary widely depending on design, number of holes, and layout:
18-hole courses:
- Compact urban course: 40-50 hectares
- Standard parkland course: 50-70 hectares
- Championship course: 60-80 hectares
- Links course (with extensive dunes/rough): 70-100+ hectares
9-hole courses: 20-35 hectares
Example: Augusta National Golf Club (home of the Masters) is approximately 140 hectares (346 acres).
Comparison: An average 18-hole golf course (~60 ha) is about 24 times the size of a FIFA soccer field (0.714 ha), or roughly 0.6 km².
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. Visually, it's roughly:
Body references:
- Adult index fingernail: About 1 cm²
- Thumbnail: About 1.5-2 cm²
- Child's fingernail: About 0.5 cm²
Common objects:
- Slightly smaller than a standard US postage stamp (~6-8 cm²)
- One face of a standard six-sided die (about 1 cm² per face)
- Small button: About 1-2 cm²
- One square on 1cm grid paper: Exactly 1 cm²
To visualize: Draw a 10mm × 10mm square - that's 1 cm². Or look at your fingernail!
How many square millimeters (mm²) are in a square centimeter (cm²)?
There are exactly 100 square millimeters (mm²) in one square centimeter (cm²).
Why 100?: Because 1 cm = 10 mm, so: 1 cm² = (10 mm) × (10 mm) = 100 mm²
Conversion:
- 1 cm² = 100 mm²
- To convert cm² to mm²: multiply by 100
- To convert mm² to cm²: divide by 100
Examples:
- 5 cm² = 500 mm²
- 0.5 cm² = 50 mm²
- 250 mm² = 2.5 cm²
Use our cm² to mm² converter for instant conversions.
How many square centimeters (cm²) are in a square meter (m²)?
There are exactly 10,000 square centimeters (cm²) in one square meter (m²).
Why 10,000?: Because 1 m = 100 cm, so: 1 m² = (100 cm) × (100 cm) = 10,000 cm²
Conversion:
- 1 m² = 10,000 cm²
- To convert m² to cm²: multiply by 10,000
- To convert cm² to m²: divide by 10,000
Examples:
- 0.5 m² = 5,000 cm²
- 0.01 m² = 100 cm²
- 15,000 cm² = 1.5 m²
Convert between them: cm² to m² | m² to cm²
How do you convert square centimeters (cm²) to square inches (in²)?
To convert square centimeters to square inches, multiply by approximately 0.155.
Conversion formula: in² = cm² × 0.155
Examples:
- 1 cm² ≈ 0.155 in²
- 10 cm² ≈ 1.55 in²
- 100 cm² ≈ 15.5 in²
- 50 cm² ≈ 7.75 in²
Reverse conversion (in² to cm²):
- Multiply by 6.4516
- 1 in² ≈ 6.45 cm²
- Example: 5 in² ≈ 32.26 cm²
Why 0.155?:
- 1 cm = 0.3937 inches
- 1 cm² = (0.3937)² ≈ 0.155 in²
Use our cm² to in² converter for accurate conversions.
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).
Details:
- Coherent SI unit for area: square meter (m²)
- cm² = 10⁻⁴ m² (accepted SI subdivision)
- Formed using: SI prefix (centi-) + SI base unit (meter)
- Widely accepted: In scientific and technical literature
Why both m² and cm² exist:
- m²: For large areas (rooms, land)
- cm²: For small areas (components, samples)
- Both are valid SI units
In practice:
- Use cm² when m² would give impractically small decimals
- Example: 0.005 m² vs 50 cm² (cm² is clearer)
When is cm² used instead of m²?
Square centimeters (cm²) are preferred when measuring areas significantly smaller than one square meter.
Use cm² when:
- Area < 0.1 m² (< 1,000 cm²)
- Precision matters at small scales
- Decimal avoidance: Rather than 0.005 m², use 50 cm²
- Standard practice in your field
Examples of cm² usage:
- Medical: Wound = 25 cm² (not 0.0025 m²)
- Electronics: IC = 2 cm² (not 0.0002 m²)
- Education: Card = 45 cm² (not 0.0045 m²)
Use m² when:
- Area > 1 m² (or even > 0.5 m²)
- Large surfaces (rooms, floors, walls)
- Construction and architecture
- Real estate
Transition zone (0.1-1 m² = 1,000-10,000 cm²):
- Either unit works
- Use whichever gives clearest numbers
- Example: 0.5 m² = 5,000 cm² (0.5 m² is simpler)
How big is 100 cm² visually?
100 square centimeters = 10 cm × 10 cm (or 0.01 square meters)
Visual comparisons:
- Smartphone screen: Most phones 80-120 cm²
- Large post-it note: About 100 cm² (10×10 cm)
- Coaster: Typical coaster ~80-100 cm²
- Hand palm (adult): Roughly 100-120 cm²
- Small notebook cover: About 100-150 cm²
Standard objects:
- CD/DVD surface: ~113 cm² (including center hole area)
- Baseball card: ~40 cm²
- iPhone screen (standard): ~90-110 cm² depending on model
Square comparison:
- Imagine a 10cm × 10cm square
- That's about 4 inches × 4 inches
- Slightly smaller than a CD
What is measured in square centimeters?
Square centimeters are used for many small-to-medium surfaces:
Medical:
- Wound sizes and lesions
- Surgical sites
- Imaging cross-sections
- Body surface area (BSA) parts
Electronics:
- Microchips and processors
- PCB component footprints
- Display modules
- Heat sink surfaces
Education:
- Geometry exercises
- Shape areas on grid paper
- Model surfaces
- Classroom measurements
Everyday:
- Screen sizes
- Cards and stamps
- Stickers and patches
- Small packaging
Science:
- Leaf areas
- Petri dish surfaces
- Sample cross-sections
- Laboratory specimens
Why cm² is useful:
- Human-scale (fingernail size)
- Avoids tiny decimals (vs m²)
- International standard
- Easy to visualize
How do you calculate area in cm²?
Basic formulas for common shapes:
Rectangle/Square:
- Area = length (cm) × width (cm)
- Example: 8 cm × 5 cm = 40 cm²
Circle:
- Area = π × radius² (where radius is in cm)
- Example: radius = 3 cm
- Area = 3.14159 × 3² ≈ 28.3 cm²
Triangle:
- Area = (base × height) / 2
- Example: base = 10 cm, height = 6 cm
- Area = (10 × 6) / 2 = 30 cm²
Complex shapes:
- Divide into simpler shapes
- Calculate each area
- Add them together
From other units:
- From mm²: divide by 100
- From m²: multiply by 10,000
- From in²: multiply by 6.4516
Measuring irregular shapes:
- Trace on 1cm grid paper
- Count full squares
- Estimate partial squares
- Total = approximate cm²
Use our area converter to check your calculations.
Why use cm² instead of mm² or m²?
Choose the unit that gives the clearest numbers:
Use cm² when:
- Area is between ~1 cm² and 1,000 cm² (0.0001-0.1 m²)
- Object is handheld size
- Medical/educational applications
- Avoiding decimals or large numbers
Use mm² when:
- Very small areas (< 1 cm²)
- Precision engineering
- Tiny components
- Example: 50 mm² vs 0.5 cm²
Use m² when:
- Large areas (> 1,000 cm² or 0.1 m²)
- Rooms, floors, walls
- Construction, real estate
- Example: 2 m² vs 20,000 cm²
Comparison: | Object | Best Unit | Why | |--------|-----------|-----| | Fingernail | 1 cm² | Clear whole number | | IC chip | 200 mm² or 2 cm² | Either works | | Smartphone | 100 cm² | Avoids decimals (vs 0.01 m²) | | Table | 1.5 m² | Better than 15,000 cm² |
Rule of thumb: Use the unit that gives numbers between 0.1 and 10,000 for easiest comprehension.
Conversion Table: Hectare to Square Centimeter
| Hectare (ha) | Square Centimeter (cm²) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 50,000,000 |
| 1 | 100,000,000 |
| 1.5 | 150,000,000 |
| 2 | 200,000,000 |
| 5 | 500,000,000 |
| 10 | 1,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 2,500,000,000 |
| 50 | 5,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 10,000,000,000 |
| 250 | 25,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 50,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 100,000,000,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Hectare to Square Centimeter?
To convert Hectare to Square Centimeter, enter the value in Hectare in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our area converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Hectare to Square Centimeter?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Hectare and Square Centimeter. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Square Centimeter back to Hectare?
Yes! You can easily convert Square Centimeter back to Hectare by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Square Centimeter to Hectare converter page. You can also explore other area conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Hectare and Square Centimeter?
Hectare and Square Centimeter are both standard units used in area measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our area converter for more conversion options.
For more area conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
All Area Conversions
Other Area Units and Conversions
Explore other area units and their conversion options:
- Square Meter (m²) • Hectare to Square Meter
- Square Kilometer (km²) • Hectare to Square Kilometer
- Square Millimeter (mm²) • Hectare to Square Millimeter
- Square Inch (in²) • Hectare to Square Inch
- Square Foot (ft²) • Hectare to Square Foot
- Square Yard (yd²) • Hectare to Square Yard
- Square Mile (mi²) • Hectare to Square Mile
- Acre (acre) • Hectare to Acre
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Standards for area measurements
Last verified: December 3, 2025