How Big is an Acre? Explained
In this article we're going to look at the acre - a unit of area commonly used for measuring tracts of land. Did you know that during the Middle Ages, an acre was defined as the amount of land ploughable in one day by one man and an ox? Not very specific, then - especially if your ox is feeling particularly lethargic. Thankfully, these days the acre unit is more clearly defined.
Dimensions of an acre
An acre can be measured in any shape, from rectangles to circles, or even hexagons. It can have any length and width so long as the total area of land is 43,560 square feet.
What size is an acre?
- 1 acre = 43,560 square feet
- 1 acre = 4046.86 square meters
- 1 acre = 4840 square yards
- 1 acre = 0.404686 hectares
- 1 acre = 1/640th of a square mile
The most common shape for an acre is 1 furlong by 1 chain, or 660 feet by 66 feet.
How big is an acre of land visually?
If you're struggling to visualize how big an acre (43,560 square feet) is, try picturing 60% of a soccer pitch, 75% of an American football field or 16 tennis courts in a 4x4 formation. If that doesn't help, think of a car park containing 150 cars parked in a square.
How many acres are in a square mile?
One square mile is equal to 640 acres. To calculate how many acres there are in your area of land, simply multiply your square mile figure by 640.
What is a commercial acre?
A visitor recently asked the question 'Why is a commercial acre different to a residential acre?
- 1 commercial acre = 36,000 square feet
- 1 commercial acre = 4000 square yards
- 1 commercial acre = 3342.8 square meters
U.S. land surveys
When surveying land in the United States, the primary, modern definition of an acre is 1/640th of a square mile. That is to say, there are 640 acres in a square mile or a "section
