Square Yard to Square Mile Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert square yards to square miles with our free online area converter.
Square Yard to Square Mile Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Square Yard).
- The converted value in Square Mile 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 Yard to Square Mile
Converting Square Yard to Square Mile involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Square Yard = 3.2283e-7 square milesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 square yards: 10 × 3.2283e-7 = 3.2283e-6 square miles
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 Square Mile?
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 Square Mile (symbol: mi² or sq mi) is a unit of area within the British Imperial and United States customary systems. It is defined as the area of a square whose sides each measure exactly one statute mile (mi) in length.
Key relationships within the imperial/US customary system:
- 1 mi² = 1 mile × 1 mile
- 1 mile = 1,760 yards (yd) = 5,280 feet (ft)
- Therefore, 1 mi² = (5,280 ft)² = 27,878,400 square feet (ft²)
- 1 mi² = (1,760 yd)² = 3,097,600 square yards (yd²)
- 1 mi² = 640 acres (ac) (This is a fundamental definition within the system)
In terms of metric units:
- 1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers (km) exactly (based on the international yard)
- Therefore, 1 mi² = (1.609344 km)² ≈ 2.589988 square kilometers (km²)
- 1 mi² ≈ 259 hectares (ha)
Note: The Square Yard is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Square Mile belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Square Yard and Square Mile
- 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 Mile): The square mile is derived from the mile, a unit of length whose name comes from the Roman mille passus ("thousand paces"). The length of the mile varied considerably until the statute mile was defined by an English Act of Parliament in 1593 as 5,280 feet.
- Imperial System: The square mile became the standard unit for measuring large land areas within the British Empire. Its definition based on the acre (640 acres per square mile) was particularly important for land surveying and administration, especially in the colonization of North America.
- US Public Land Survey System (PLSS): The square mile, referred to as a section, is a fundamental unit in the PLSS, which was established by the Land Ordinance of 1785. This system was used to survey and divide vast amounts of land in the United States. Townships are typically defined as 36 square miles (a 6x6 grid of sections).
- Standardization (International Mile): While the statute mile was legally defined, its exact relationship to metric units was solidified with the international agreement of 1959, which defined the yard (and thus the foot and mile) in terms of the meter. This fixed the conversion to square kilometers.
- Continued Use: Despite global metrication, the square mile remains the primary unit for large land areas and geographical measurements in the United States and is still used in some contexts in the UK, Canada, and other countries with historical ties to the imperial system.
Common Uses for square yards and square miles
Explore the typical applications for both Square Yard (imperial/US) and Square Mile (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 square miles
The square mile is used for measuring large areas, particularly land:
- Geography and Cartography (US, UK, etc.): Measuring the area of cities, counties, states (in the US), national parks, large lakes, islands, and administrative regions in countries using imperial/US customary units.
- Demography (US, UK, etc.): Calculating population density, typically expressed as inhabitants per square mile (people/mi²).
- Land Surveying (US): A fundamental unit (section) in the Public Land Survey System used for defining property boundaries over large parts of the United States.
- Real Estate (Large Tracts): Sometimes used for very large rural properties or ranches, although acres are often preferred.
- Historical Documents: Common in older maps, land deeds, and geographical descriptions in relevant countries.
- Environmental Science: Measuring the extent of large reserves, habitats, or areas affected by large-scale phenomena (e.g., wildfire extent) in relevant regions.
It is generally too large for measuring individual residential properties (acres or square feet are used) or room sizes.
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 Square Mile (mi²)
How many acres are in one square mile?
There are exactly 640 acres in one square mile. This is a defining relationship in the imperial and US customary systems.
How do you calculate the area of a square mile?
It is the area of a square with sides of one mile each. Since 1 mile = 5,280 feet: Area = 5,280 ft × 5,280 ft = 27,878,400 square feet (ft²).
How many square kilometers are in one square mile?
One square mile is equal to approximately 2.589988 square kilometers (km²). For practical purposes, it is often rounded to 2.59 km².
- Conversion formula: Area [km²] ≈ Area [mi²] × 2.589988
Is the square mile an SI unit?
No, the square mile is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the British Imperial and US customary systems. The corresponding SI-accepted unit for large areas is the square kilometer (km²) or the hectare (ha).
What is a "section" of land in the US?
In the US Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a section is a unit of land area nominally equivalent to one square mile (640 acres). Townships are typically formed from a 6-mile by 6-mile square, containing 36 sections.
How to convert 3 square miles to square yards
To convert 3 square miles to square yards, we need to use the conversion factor between square miles and square yards. 1 square mile = 3,097,600 square yards So, to convert 3 square miles to square yards, we multiply 3 by 3,097,600: 3 square miles = 3 * 3,097,600 = 9,292,800 square yards Therefore, 3 square miles is equal to 9,292,800 square yards.
Conversion Table: Square Yard to Square Mile
| Square Yard (yd²) | Square Mile (mi²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |