Square Kilometer to Hectare Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square kilometers to hectares with our free online area converter.
Square Kilometer to Hectare Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Kilometer).
- 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 Kilometer to Hectare
Converting Square Kilometer to Hectare involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Kilometer = 100 hectaresExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square kilometers: 10 × 100 = 1000 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 Kilometer and a Hectare?
The Square Kilometer (symbol: km² or sq km) is a multiple of the square meter (m²), the base unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one kilometer (km) in length.
Key relationships:
- 1 km² = 1 kilometer × 1 kilometer
- 1 km = 1,000 meters (m)
- Therefore, 1 km² = (1,000 m) × (1,000 m) = 1,000,000 square meters (m²)
- 1 km² = 100 hectares (ha) (since 1 hectare = 10,000 m²)
In terms of imperial/US customary units:
- 1 km² ≈ 0.3861 square miles (mi²)
- 1 km² ≈ 247.1 acres (ac)
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 Kilometer is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Hectare belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Square Kilometer and Hectare
- Origin: The square kilometer is derived directly from the kilometer, a unit of length introduced as part of the metric system, which was developed in France during the late 18th century.
- Metric System Adoption: The metric system, including the meter and its multiples like the kilometer, was created to provide a standardized, decimal-based system of measurement. As nations began adopting the metric system throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the square kilometer naturally became the standard unit for expressing large geographical areas.
- SI Standard: The International System of Units (SI), formally established in 1960, confirmed the square meter (m²) as the base unit of area. The square kilometer is a widely accepted and commonly used multiple of this base unit, consistent with SI prefixes.
- Global Usage: Today, the square kilometer is the predominant unit used worldwide for measuring the land area of countries, large administrative regions, bodies of water, and other significant geographical features.
- 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 kilometers and hectares
Explore the typical applications for both Square Kilometer (metric) and Hectare (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for square kilometers
The square kilometer is almost exclusively used for measuring large-scale areas:
- Geography and Cartography: The standard unit for stating the land or surface area of countries, continents, large islands, administrative divisions (states, provinces), and major cities.
- Demography: Essential for calculating population density, typically expressed as inhabitants per square kilometer (people/km²).
- Environmental Science: Measuring the extent of large ecosystems (forests, deserts, wetlands), national parks, conservation areas, watersheds, ice sheets, or the area impacted by large-scale environmental events (e.g., oil spills, deforestation).
- Urban Planning and Land Management: Quantifying large zones, districts, or total city area in regional planning.
- Geology and Planetary Science: Measuring the surface area of large geological formations or the surface areas of planets, moons, and asteroids.
- Military and Logistics: Defining large operational areas or zones.
It is too large for measuring individual properties, farms (hectares or acres are preferred), or room sizes (square meters or square feet 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 Kilometer (km²)
How many square meters are in one square kilometer?
There are exactly 1,000,000 square meters (m²) in one square kilometer. This is calculated as 1,000 meters × 1,000 meters.
How many hectares are in one square kilometer?
There are exactly 100 hectares (ha) in one square kilometer. (1 km² = 1,000,000 m² and 1 ha = 10,000 m²).
How do you convert square kilometers to square miles?
To convert square kilometers to square miles, multiply the area in square kilometers by approximately 0.386102.
- Conversion formula: Area [mi²] ≈ Area [km²] × 0.386102
- Example: 100 km² ≈ 100 × 0.386102 mi² ≈ 38.61 mi²
Conversely, to convert square miles to square kilometers, multiply by approximately 2.58999.
- 1 mi² ≈ 2.59 km²
Is the square kilometer an official SI unit?
Strictly speaking, the official SI derived unit for area is the square meter (m²). However, the square kilometer (km²) is formed by combining an SI prefix (kilo-) with the SI base unit (meter) raised to the power of two, making it a standard and fully accepted multiple within the metric system and for use alongside SI units.
What is the difference between a kilometer and a square kilometer?
A kilometer (km) is a unit of length or distance (one dimension). A square kilometer (km²) is a unit of area (two dimensions), representing a square with sides of one kilometer each.
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 Kilometer to Hectare
| Square Kilometer (km²) | Hectare (ha) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 5 | 500 |
| 10 | 1,000 |
| 25 | 2,500 |
| 50 | 5,000 |
| 100 | 10,000 |
| 500 | 50,000 |
| 1,000 | 100,000 |