Hectare to Square Yard Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

Convert hectares to square yards with our free online area converter.

From:

Hectare

To:

Square Yard

How to Use the Calculator:

Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Hectare).
The converted value in Square Yard 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 Yard

Converting Hectare to Square Yard involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

1 Hectare = 11959.9 square yards

Example Calculation:

Convert 10 hectares: 10 × 11959.9 = 119599 square yards

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 Yard?

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 Yard (symbol: yd² or sq yd) is a unit of area used in the British Imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is defined as the area of a square whose sides each measure exactly one yard in length.

Key relationships within the imperial/US customary system:

1 yd² = 1 yard × 1 yard
1 yard = 3 feet (ft)
1 yard = 36 inches (in)
Therefore, 1 yd² = (3 ft)² = 9 square feet (ft²)
1 yd² = (36 in)² = 1,296 square inches (in²)
1 acre (ac) = 4,840 yd²
1 square mile (mi²) = 3,097,600 yd²

In terms of metric units (based on the international yard defined as exactly 0.9144 meters):

1 yd² = (0.9144 m)² = 0.83612736 square meters (m²) exactly.
1 yd² ≈ 8361.27 square centimeters (cm²)

Note: The Hectare is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Square Yard belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Hectare and Square Yard

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.

Origin (The Yard): The square yard is derived from the yard, a unit of length used in England since at least the early medieval period. The origin of the yard is uncertain, with theories linking it to the length of a stride, an arrow, or the distance from the nose to the fingertip of an outstretched arm (similar to an ell). Its length varied regionally until standardization efforts.
Standardization: The yard was standardized in England over centuries. Formal definitions were established, and physical standard yard bars were created. The Weights and Measures Act of 1824 established the imperial yard.
International Yard (1959): The United States and Commonwealth countries agreed to define the international yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. This standardized the yard and, consequently, the square yard, providing a precise conversion to metric units (0.83612736 m²).
Traditional Use: Historically, the square yard was widely used in the UK and its colonies (later the Commonwealth) and the US for measuring textiles, carpets, and medium-sized land areas before the increasing adoption of square feet (for smaller areas) and acres (for larger areas) or metric units.

Common Uses for hectares and square yards

Explore the typical applications for both Hectare (imperial/US) and Square Yard (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 yards

While less common than square feet or square meters in many modern applications, the square yard remains relevant in specific contexts:

Flooring and Textiles (US, UK): Still frequently used for pricing and selling carpet, vinyl flooring, artificial turf, and fabrics, especially in retail settings.
Landscaping and Gardening (US, UK): Used for calculating quantities of materials like sod, topsoil, mulch, or fertilizer needed for medium-sized lawns and garden areas.
Waste Management (US): Dumpster sizes and waste volumes are sometimes estimated or priced in cubic yards, implicitly relating to area coverage.
Construction: Occasionally used for estimating surface areas for paving, concrete slabs, or painting, though square feet or square meters are more common.
Sports Fields: The dimensions of fields for sports like American football and Canadian football are defined in yards, so area calculations naturally use square yards.
Historical Context: Understanding square yards is necessary when dealing with older land records, building plans, or textile measurements.

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 Yard (yd²)

How many square feet are in one square yard?

There are exactly 9 square feet (ft²) in one square yard. This is because 1 yard = 3 feet, so 1 yd² = 3 ft × 3 ft = 9 ft².

How do you convert square yards to square meters?

To convert square yards to square meters, multiply the area in square yards by 0.83612736.

Conversion formula: Area [m²] = Area [yd²] × 0.83612736
Example: 100 yd² = 100 × 0.83612736 m² ≈ 83.61 m²

Is the square yard commonly used for house floor plans?

No, in the US and UK, house floor plans and room sizes are almost universally measured in square feet (ft²). In metric countries, square meters (m²) are used.

Is the square yard an SI unit?

No, the square yard is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the British Imperial and US customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for area is the square meter (m²).

Why is carpet often sold by the square yard?

This is largely a historical convention from when the yard was a more common unit for measuring length and area, particularly for textiles. Even though underlying measurements might be done in feet or inches, the final price is often quoted per square yard in the US and UK.

Conversion Table: Hectare to Square Yard

Hectare (ha)	Square Yard (yd²)
1	11,959.901
5	59,799.502
10	119,599.005
25	298,997.512
50	597,995.023
100	1,195,990.046
500	5,979,950.232
1,000	11,959,900.463

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