Hectare to Square Foot Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert hectares to square feet with our free online area converter.
Hectare to Square Foot Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Hectare).
- The converted value in Square Foot 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 Foot
Converting Hectare to Square Foot involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Hectare = 107639.1 square feet
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 hectares: 10 × 107639.1 = 1076391 square feet
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.
What is a Hectare and a Square Foot?
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 foot (plural: square feet; symbol: ft², sq ft, or SF) is an imperial and US customary unit of area. It is defined as the area of a square with sides measuring exactly one foot (0.3048 meters) in length.
One square foot is equal to:
- 144 square inches (in²)
- 1/9 of a square yard (yd²)
- 0.09290304 square meters (m²) (exactly, based on the international foot definition)
- 929.0304 square centimeters (cm²)
It is widely used for measuring room dimensions, house sizes, and smaller land areas in countries using the imperial or US customary systems.
Note: The Hectare is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Square Foot belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Hectare and Square Foot
- 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.
- Roots in the Foot: The square foot naturally derives from the foot, a unit of length used since antiquity. The length of the foot varied significantly across different cultures and historical periods, often based on anatomical averages or royal decrees.
- English Standardization: In England, the foot (and thus the square foot) underwent various standardizations. Its use became deeply ingrained in land surveying, architecture, and trade.
- International Foot (1959): To resolve slight discrepancies between the US customary foot and the imperial foot, the "international yard and pound agreement" of 1959 defined the international yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. This implicitly defined the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. Consequently, the international square foot is exactly 0.09290304 square meters.
- Persistence: Despite widespread global metrication, the square foot remains the standard unit for many applications, particularly in real estate and construction, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and several other nations influenced by British or American standards.
Common Uses for hectares and square feet
Explore the typical applications for both Hectare (imperial/US) and Square Foot (imperial/US) 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 feet
The square foot is a ubiquitous unit of area in specific sectors and regions:
- Real Estate (US, Canada, UK, etc.): The primary unit for specifying the area of residential homes, apartments, office spaces, and commercial properties in listings, appraisals, and architectural drawings.
- Construction & Architecture: Used universally in these regions for floor plans, material estimation (flooring, drywall, roofing), and building design.
- Home Improvement: Standard measurement for purchasing materials like tiles, carpet, paint coverage, and wallpaper.
- HVAC Calculations: Used to determine heating and cooling requirements based on room or building area.
- Gardening & Landscaping: Measuring smaller plots, garden beds, patios, or deck areas.
- Rental Space: Often used for pricing storage units or exhibition spaces.
- Art & Signage: Describing the area of canvases, prints, or signs.
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 Foot (ft²)
How big is a square foot visually?
One square foot is the area of a square measuring 1 foot (12 inches or 30.48 cm) on each side. For comparison:
- It's the typical size of a large ceramic floor tile (12"x12").
- It's slightly larger than a standard sheet of US letter paper (8.5"x11" = 93.5 in²).
- A large hardcover notebook might be close to this area.
How many square inches (in²) are in a square foot (ft²)?
There are exactly 144 square inches (in²) in one square foot (ft²). This is because 1 foot = 12 inches, so 1 ft² = (12 inches) × (12 inches) = 144 in².
How many square feet (ft²) are in a square yard (yd²)?
There are exactly 9 square feet (ft²) in one square yard (yd²). This is because 1 yard = 3 feet, so 1 yd² = (3 feet) × (3 feet) = 9 ft².
How do you convert square feet (ft²) to square meters (m²)?
To convert square feet to square meters, multiply the area in square feet by 0.09290304. For a quick approximation, you can divide the number of square feet by 10.764. For example, 100 ft² is exactly 9.290304 m².
How many square feet (ft²) are in an acre (ac)?
There are exactly 43,560 square feet (ft²) in one acre (ac).
Is the square foot (ft²) an SI unit?
No, the square foot is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is a unit within the imperial system and US customary units. The corresponding SI unit for area is the square meter (m²).
Conversion Table: Hectare to Square Foot
Hectare (ha) | Square Foot (ft²) |
---|---|
1 | 107,639.104 |
5 | 538,195.521 |
10 | 1,076,391.042 |
25 | 2,690,977.604 |
50 | 5,381,955.208 |
100 | 10,763,910.417 |
500 | 53,819,552.084 |
1,000 | 107,639,104.167 |