What is a Hectare? Complete Guide to Land Measurement

A Hectare is a unit of area measurement commonly used for measuring large plots of land. It is a metric unit and is accepted for use with the International System of Units (SI).

Definition

One Hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters (100m × 100m). To visualize, a Hectare is roughly the size of a standard European football field.

Key Facts About Hectare

History of Hectare

The metric system was introduced in 1795. The term "Hectare" was coined that same year, derived from the French words "are" (area) and "hecto" (hundred). The "are" was originally defined as 100 square meters, and one Hectare equaled 100 ares.

Usage Worldwide

Hectare is the most commonly used unit for measuring agricultural land worldwide. It is officially used in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the European Union for land registration and agricultural statistics.

FAQ

Is Hectare an SI unit?
Hectare is not an SI base unit, but it is accepted for use with the SI system. The SI derived unit for area is the square meter.
How big is 1 Hectare visually?
1 Hectare is approximately the size of a standard football (soccer) field, or about 2.5 acres of land.
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