Square Kilometer to Square Yard Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

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

From:

Square Kilometer

To:

Square Yard

How to Use the Calculator:

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

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

Formula:

1 Square Kilometer = 1195990 square yards

Example Calculation:

Convert 10 square kilometers: 10 × 1195990 = 11959900 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 Kilometer and a Square Yard?

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 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 Kilometer 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 Kilometer and Square Yard

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 (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 kilometers and square yards

Explore the typical applications for both Square Kilometer (metric) and Square Yard (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 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 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 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 Kilometer to Square Yard

Square Kilometer (km²)	Square Yard (yd²)
1	1,195,990.046
5	5,979,950.232
10	11,959,900.463
25	29,899,751.158
50	59,799,502.315
100	119,599,004.63
500	597,995,023.151
1,000	1,195,990,046.301

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 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 Yard 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