Square Inch to Hectare Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square inches to hectares with our free online area converter.
Square Inch to Hectare Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Inch).
- The converted value in Hectare 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 Inch to Hectare
Converting Square Inch to Hectare involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Inch = 6.4516e-8 hectaresExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square inches: 10 × 6.4516e-8 = 6.4516e-7 hectares
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 Inch and a Hectare?
The Square Inch (symbol: in² or sq in) is a unit of area in both 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 inch in length.
Mathematically: 1 in² = 1 inch × 1 inch
It is related to other imperial/US customary area units:
- 1 square foot (ft²) = 144 in² (since 1 ft = 12 in)
- 1 square yard (yd²) = 1,296 in² (since 1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in)
In terms of metric units, based on the international inch defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters (mm):
- 1 in² = (25.4 mm)² = 645.16 mm²
- 1 in² = (2.54 cm)² = 6.4516 cm²
- 1 in² = (0.0254 m)² = 0.00064516 m²
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.
Note: The Square Inch is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Hectare belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Square Inch and Hectare
- Origin: The square inch originates from the inch, a fundamental unit of length in the English (later British Imperial and US customary) systems. The concept of measuring area based on squaring a length unit dates back to ancient measurement practices.
- Evolution of the Inch: The precise length of the inch itself varied significantly over centuries and by location before the 20th century. Early definitions were often based on barleycorns or thumb widths.
- Standardization (International Inch): In 1959, the United States and countries of the Commonwealth of Nations agreed upon the definition of the international yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. This agreement consequently defined the international inch as exactly 25.4 millimeters (mm). This standardization fixed the exact metric equivalent of the square inch as 6.4516 square centimeters (cm²).
- Continued Use: Despite widespread global metrication, the square inch remains a common unit in the United States, and to a lesser extent in the United Kingdom and Canada, particularly in certain trades and industries.
- 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.
Common Uses for square inches and hectares
Explore the typical applications for both Square Inch (imperial/US) and Hectare (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for square inches
The square inch is primarily used for measuring relatively small areas, especially in specific fields:
- Engineering and Manufacturing (US/UK): Specifying the cross-sectional area of wires, beams, or pipes; surface area of small mechanical parts; material stress calculations (often in conjunction with psi - pounds per square inch).
- Electronics: Measuring the surface area of components like microchips or circuit boards.
- Material Science: Quantifying the area of material samples for testing (e.g., fabric swatches, paper sheets).
- Printing and Graphic Design (US): Sometimes used for small image dimensions or layout areas, although points and picas are also common.
- Pressure Measurement: Implicitly used as the denominator in the widely used unit of pressure, pounds per square inch (psi).
- Retail (Specific Goods): Occasionally used for pricing small, specialized items sold by area (e.g., certain textiles, craft supplies).
- Crafts and Hobbies: Measuring small patches of fabric, paper dimensions, or design elements in quilting, scrapbooking, etc.
It is generally too small for measuring room dimensions (square feet are used) or land (acres or square miles are used).
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Square Inch (in²)
How many square inches are in one square foot?
There are exactly 144 square inches in one square foot. This is because 1 square foot is the area of a square with 12-inch sides (12 inches × 12 inches = 144 in²).
How do you convert square inches to square centimeters?
To convert square inches to square centimeters, multiply the area in square inches by 6.4516.
- Conversion formula: Area [cm²] = Area [in²] × 6.4516
- Example: 10 in² = 10 × 6.4516 cm² = 64.516 cm²
Is the square inch the same as "inches squared"?
Yes, the terms "square inch" (in²) and "inches squared" refer to the same unit of area.
Is the square inch an SI unit?
No, the square inch is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the British Imperial and US customary systems. The corresponding SI units for area are the square meter (m²) and its derived units like the square centimeter (cm²) and square millimeter (mm²).
Why is psi (pounds per square inch) so common?
Pounds per square inch (psi) became a standard unit for measuring pressure (force per unit area) in many English-speaking countries, particularly in engineering and industrial applications, due to the established use of the pound for force and the inch for dimensions within the Imperial and US customary systems. While the SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa), psi remains deeply ingrained in many technical fields in the US.
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.
Conversion Table: Square Inch to Hectare
| Square Inch (in²) | Hectare (ha) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |