Quick Reference
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Acres | Hectares | 0.404686 |
| Hectares | Acres | 2.471054 |
| Acres | Square metres | 4,046.856 |
| Acres | Square feet | 43,560 |
| Hectares | Square metres | 10,000 |
| Square kilometres | Hectares | 100 |
| Square miles | Acres | 640 |
| Square metres | Square feet | 10.7639 |
Common Land Sizes
| Size | Hectares | Square metres | Trees at 2.5m spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 acre | 0.40 | 4,047 | 647 |
| 2 acres | 0.81 | 8,094 | 1,295 |
| 5 acres | 2.02 | 20,234 | 3,237 |
| 10 acres | 4.05 | 40,469 | 6,475 |
| 1 hectare | 1.00 | 10,000 | 1,600 |
| 10 hectares | 10.00 | 100,000 | 16,000 |
| 100 hectares | 100.00 | 1,000,000 | 160,000 |
Work out stems for any spacing with the tree spacing calculator.
Why an Acre Is That Odd Number
An acre was historically the area a yoke of oxen could plough in a day — one furlong (660 ft) by one chain (66 ft), which is 43,560 square feet. The hectare came later and is simply 100m × 100m, which is why it is a round 10,000 m².
That is the whole reason the conversion is 2.4711 rather than something memorable.
A Caution on Local Units
Do not assume a local unit is standard
- Many countries use local land measures — plots, decimals, bighas, kanals, rai, tarea — and several of these vary by region within the same country.
- Where money is involved, agree the area in hectares or square metres, not in a local unit whose definition may be contested.
- And measure it. A stated acreage that nobody has walked is an assumption, not a fact — discrepancies of 10–20% are common in land that has been subdivided and resold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many acres are in a hectare?
One hectare equals 2.4711 acres. Going the other way, one acre equals 0.4047 hectares.
A hectare is 10,000 square metres (100m × 100m); an acre is 4,046.86 square metres.
How many square metres are in an acre?
4,046.86 square metres, or 43,560 square feet.
The odd number comes from the acre's historical definition: one furlong (660 ft) by one chain (66 ft).
How do I convert hectares to acres quickly?
Multiply hectares by 2.47. For rough mental arithmetic, hectares × 2.5 is close enough — it over-states by about 1%.
To go from acres to hectares, divide by 2.47 or multiply by 0.4.
How many trees fit in a hectare?
It depends entirely on spacing. At 2.5m × 2.5m you fit 1,600 trees per hectare; at 3m × 3m, 1,111; at 2m × 2m, 2,500.
Use the tree spacing calculator to work out any spacing, and remember to deduct firebreaks and access before ordering seedlings.
Is a hectare bigger than an acre?
Yes, substantially — about two and a half times bigger. One hectare is 2.4711 acres.
A useful mental picture: a hectare is roughly a square of 100 by 100 metres, a little larger than a standard football pitch.