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Square Yard to Acre Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

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

Square Yard to Acre Calculator

Square Yard
Acre

How to Use the Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Yard).
  2. The converted value in Acre will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Area category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.

How to Convert Square Yard to Acre

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

Formula:

1 Square Yard = 0.000206612 acres

Example Calculation:

Convert 10 square yards: 10 × 0.000206612 = 0.00206612 acres

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 Yard and a Acre?

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)

The acre (symbol: ac) is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet). This is exactly equal to:

  • 10 square chains
  • 1/640 of a square mile
  • 4,840 square yards
  • 43,560 square feet
  • Approximately 4,046.856 square meters (m²)
  • Approximately 0.4047 hectares (ha)

While derived from traditional farming practices, its size is now legally defined based on the international yard.

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

History of the Square Yard and Acre

  • 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.
  • Origin: The word "acre" derives from the Old English word æcer (originally meaning "open field"), cognate with German Acker and Latin ager. It traditionally represented the amount of land that could be ploughed by one man with one yoke of oxen in one day. This practical definition naturally led to considerable variation in its size depending on the land quality and local customs.
  • Medieval Variations: Throughout the Middle Ages in England, the acre's size varied. Different regions used "customary acres" based on local practices, often related to the quality of the land or the length of a standard furrow (furlong).
  • Standardization (Gunter's Chain): The standardization of the acre is closely linked to the invention of Gunter's chain in 1620. This measuring chain, 66 feet long (divided into 100 links), became a standard survey tool. The traditional definition of an acre as a strip of land one furlong (10 chains or 660 feet) long and one chain (66 feet) wide was easily measured using the chain. This area is precisely 10 square chains.
  • Statutory Acre: In England and Wales, the Weights and Measures Act of 1878 formalized the "statutory acre" based on the imperial yard, solidifying the definition as 4,840 square yards (or 43,560 square feet). This is the acre commonly used today in the UK, US, and Commonwealth countries.
  • Metrication: Although many countries using the acre have largely adopted the metric system for other measurements, the acre persists strongly in land transactions and agriculture due to historical precedent and cultural familiarity. The hectare (10,000 m²) is the more common metric unit for land.

Common Uses for square yards and acres

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

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.

Common Uses for acres

The acre remains a primary unit for land measurement in several countries, particularly within specific sectors:

  • Real Estate (US, UK, Commonwealth): Standard unit for describing the size of land parcels in property listings, deeds, and surveys, especially for residential lots larger than typical city plots, rural properties, and undeveloped land.
  • Agriculture: Widely used by farmers to measure field sizes, calculate crop yields, allocate resources (like fertilizer or seeds), and comply with agricultural regulations.
  • Land Management and Planning: Used in zoning regulations, environmental assessments, and land development projects to specify area requirements or limitations.
  • Historical Documents: Understanding the acre is crucial for interpreting historical land records, surveys, and deeds.
  • Informal Comparisons: Often used informally to help visualize the size of large areas, even where metric units are officially standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions 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.

About Acre (acre)

How big is an acre visually?

An acre is 43,560 square feet. While it can be any shape, a square acre would be about 208.71 feet on each side. A common visual comparison is an American football field: one acre is about 90.75% of the total area of a standard American football field (which is 120 yards long by 53.33 yards wide, or 57,600 sq ft including end zones). Excluding the end zones (100 yards by 53.33 yards, or 48,000 sq ft), an acre is about 90.75% of the playing field area.

How many square feet are in an acre?

There are exactly 43,560 square feet in one acre. This definition (1 furlong × 1 chain = 660 ft × 66 ft) is precise.

How many square yards are in an acre?

There are exactly 4,840 square yards in one acre (since 1 yard = 3 feet, 1 square yard = 9 square feet; 43,560 / 9 = 4,840).

How many acres are in a square mile?

There are exactly 640 acres in one square mile.

How many acres are in a hectare?

One hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters. Since one acre is approximately 4,046.856 square meters, one hectare contains approximately 2.471 acres (10,000 / 4046.856 ≈ 2.471). Conversely, one acre is approximately 0.4047 hectares.

Is the acre an SI unit?

No, the acre is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the imperial and US customary systems. The SI unit for area is the square meter (m²). For land measurement, the hectare (ha), equal to 10,000 m², is commonly used in metric contexts and is accepted for use with SI.

Conversion Table: Square Yard to Acre

Square Yard (yd²)Acre (acre)
10
50.001
100.002
250.005
500.01
1000.021
5000.103
1,0000.207

All Area Conversions

Square Meter to Square KilometerSquare Meter to Square CentimeterSquare Meter to Square MillimeterSquare Meter to Square InchSquare Meter to Square FootSquare Meter to Square YardSquare Meter to Square MileSquare Meter to AcreSquare Meter to HectareSquare Kilometer to Square MeterSquare Kilometer to Square CentimeterSquare Kilometer to Square MillimeterSquare Kilometer to Square InchSquare Kilometer to Square FootSquare Kilometer to Square YardSquare Kilometer to Square MileSquare Kilometer to AcreSquare Kilometer to HectareSquare Centimeter to Square MeterSquare Centimeter to Square KilometerSquare Centimeter to Square MillimeterSquare Centimeter to Square InchSquare Centimeter to Square FootSquare Centimeter to Square YardSquare Centimeter to Square MileSquare Centimeter to AcreSquare Centimeter to HectareSquare Millimeter to Square MeterSquare Millimeter to Square KilometerSquare Millimeter to Square CentimeterSquare Millimeter to Square InchSquare Millimeter to Square FootSquare Millimeter to Square YardSquare Millimeter to Square MileSquare Millimeter to AcreSquare Millimeter to HectareSquare Inch to Square MeterSquare Inch to Square KilometerSquare Inch to Square CentimeterSquare Inch to Square MillimeterSquare Inch to Square FootSquare Inch to Square YardSquare Inch to Square MileSquare Inch to AcreSquare Inch to HectareSquare Foot to Square MeterSquare Foot to Square KilometerSquare Foot to Square CentimeterSquare Foot to Square MillimeterSquare Foot to Square InchSquare Foot to Square YardSquare Foot to Square MileSquare Foot to AcreSquare Foot to HectareSquare Yard to Square MeterSquare Yard to Square KilometerSquare Yard to Square CentimeterSquare Yard to Square MillimeterSquare Yard to Square InchSquare Yard to Square FootSquare Yard to Square MileSquare Yard to HectareSquare Mile to Square MeterSquare Mile to Square KilometerSquare Mile to Square CentimeterSquare Mile to Square MillimeterSquare Mile to Square InchSquare Mile to Square FootSquare Mile to Square YardSquare Mile to AcreSquare Mile to HectareAcre to Square MeterAcre to Square KilometerAcre to Square CentimeterAcre to Square MillimeterAcre to Square InchAcre to Square FootAcre to Square YardAcre to Square MileAcre to HectareHectare to Square MeterHectare to Square KilometerHectare to Square CentimeterHectare to Square MillimeterHectare to Square InchHectare to Square FootHectare to Square YardHectare to Square MileHectare to Acre

Other Units from Area