Square Centimeter to Square Yard Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

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

From:

Square Centimeter

To:

Square Yard

How to Use the Calculator:

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

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

Formula:

1 Square Centimeter = 0.000119599 square yards

Example Calculation:

Convert 10 square centimeters: 10 × 0.000119599 = 0.00119599 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 Square Centimeter and a Square Yard?

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).

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 Square Centimeter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Square Yard belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Square Centimeter and Square Yard

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.

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 square centimeters and square yards

Explore the typical applications for both Square Centimeter (metric) and Square Yard (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

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.

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 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.

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: Square Centimeter to Square Yard

Square Centimeter (cm²)	Square Yard (yd²)
1	0
5	0.001
10	0.001
25	0.003
50	0.006
100	0.012
500	0.06
1,000	0.12

All Area Conversions

Square Meter to Square Kilometer Square Meter to Square Centimeter Square Meter to Square Millimeter Square Meter to Square Inch Square Meter to Square Foot Square Meter to Square Yard Square Meter to Square Mile Square Meter to Acre Square Meter to Hectare Square Kilometer to Square Meter Square Kilometer to Square Centimeter Square Kilometer to Square Millimeter Square Kilometer to Square Inch Square Kilometer to Square Foot Square Kilometer to Square Yard Square Kilometer to Square Mile Square Kilometer to Acre Square Kilometer to Hectare Square Centimeter to Square Meter Square Centimeter to Square Kilometer Square Centimeter to Square Millimeter Square Centimeter to Square Inch Square Centimeter to Square Foot Square Centimeter to Square Mile Square Centimeter to Acre Square Centimeter to Hectare Square Millimeter to Square Meter Square Millimeter to Square Kilometer Square Millimeter to Square Centimeter Square Millimeter to Square Inch Square Millimeter to Square Foot Square Millimeter to Square Yard Square Millimeter to Square Mile Square Millimeter to Acre Square Millimeter to Hectare Square Inch to Square Meter Square Inch to Square Kilometer Square Inch to Square Centimeter Square Inch to Square Millimeter Square Inch to Square Foot Square Inch to Square Yard Square Inch to Square Mile Square Inch to Acre Square Inch to Hectare Square Foot to Square Meter Square Foot to Square Kilometer Square Foot to Square Centimeter Square Foot to Square Millimeter Square Foot to Square Inch Square Foot to Square Yard Square Foot to Square Mile Square Foot to Acre Square Foot to Hectare Square Yard to Square Meter Square Yard to Square Kilometer Square Yard to Square Centimeter Square Yard to Square Millimeter Square Yard to Square Inch Square Yard to Square Foot Square Yard to Square Mile Square Yard to Acre Square Yard to Hectare Square Mile to Square Meter Square Mile to Square Kilometer Square Mile to Square Centimeter Square Mile to Square Millimeter Square Mile to Square Inch Square Mile to Square Foot Square Mile to Square Yard Square Mile to Acre Square Mile to Hectare Acre to Square Meter Acre to Square Kilometer Acre to Square Centimeter Acre to Square Millimeter Acre to Square Inch Acre to Square Foot Acre to Square Yard Acre to Square Mile Acre to Hectare Hectare to Square Meter Hectare to Square Kilometer Hectare to Square Centimeter Hectare to Square Millimeter Hectare to Square Inch Hectare to Square Foot Hectare to Square Yard Hectare to Square Mile Hectare to Acre