Acres to Hectares Converter
Free Acres to Hectares | UK Land Area Calculator 2025 converter — fast, accurate and easy to use. Convert between common units instantly with our online...
Last updated: February 2026
Acres to Hectares Converter
Convert between acres, hectares, and square metres for UK property and land calculations
Enter a value to convert
1 acre = 0.404686 hectares = 4,046.86 m²
Quick Conversion Reference
4,046.86 m²
10,000 m²
≈ 3 football pitches
≈ 14 football pitches
Small farm size
1 km² (1 sq km)
Conversion Formulas
Hectares = Acres × 0.404686
Example: 10 acres × 0.404686 = 4.04686 hectares
Acres = Hectares × 2.47105
Example: 5 hectares × 2.47105 = 12.355 acres
Acres to Hectares: Divide by 2.5 (approximately)
Hectares to Acres: Multiply by 2.5 (approximately)
10 acres ÷ 2.5 = 4 hectares (actual: 4.05)
Acres to Hectares Conversion Table
| Acres | Hectares | Square Metres | UK Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 0.10 | 1,012 | Large garden plot |
| 0.5 | 0.20 | 2,023 | Smallholding plot |
| 1 | 0.40 | 4,047 | ~Half a football pitch |
| 2 | 0.81 | 8,094 | 1 football pitch |
| 5 | 2.02 | 20,234 | Large paddock |
| 10 | 4.05 | 40,469 | Small field |
| 25 | 10.12 | 101,171 | Small farm |
| 50 | 20.23 | 202,343 | Medium farm |
| 100 | 40.47 | 404,686 | Large farm |
| 250 | 101.17 | 1,011,714 | Estate / 1 km² |
Visual Size Comparison
Understanding land sizes using familiar UK references:
*Based on standard FIFA football pitch (105m × 68m = 0.714 hectares = 1.76 acres)
UK Land Size Examples
Average UK Garden
Football Pitch
UK Average Farm
Buckingham Palace Gardens
Hyde Park
Lake District
UK Land Measurement: Acres vs Hectares
Historical Context
The acre has been used in Britain since Anglo-Saxon times, originally defined as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plough in one day. The word comes from Old English "æcer" meaning "open field".
The hectare was introduced with the metric system and is based on 10,000 square metres (a square 100m × 100m). The UK officially adopted metric measurements for land in 1995.
When Each Measurement Is Used in the UK
| Context | Typically Uses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property Listings | Acres (often both) | Estate agents prefer acres as buyers find it familiar |
| HM Land Registry | Both accepted | Official documents may use either |
| Farming & Agriculture | Hectares (official) | EU subsidies and grants use hectares |
| DEFRA Statistics | Hectares | Official government agricultural data |
| Forestry Commission | Hectares | Woodland management and grants |
| Ordnance Survey Maps | Hectares | Official mapping uses metric |
| Rural Estate Sales | Both | Large estates show acres and hectares |
| Casual Conversation | Acres | Most British people understand acres better |
Complete Land Area Unit Relationships
| Unit | Square Metres | Acres | Hectares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Square Foot | 0.0929 m² | 0.0000230 | 0.0000093 |
| 1 Square Yard | 0.8361 m² | 0.000207 | 0.0000836 |
| 1 Square Metre | 1 m² | 0.000247 | 0.0001 |
| 1 Are | 100 m² | 0.0247 | 0.01 |
| 1 Rood (UK historical) | 1,012 m² | 0.25 | 0.1012 |
| 1 Acre | 4,047 m² | 1 | 0.4047 |
| 1 Hectare | 10,000 m² | 2.471 | 1 |
| 1 Square Kilometre | 1,000,000 m² | 247.1 | 100 |
| 1 Square Mile | 2,590,000 m² | 640 | 259 |
UK Farm Size Statistics (2023)
| Farm Category | Hectares | Acres | % of UK Farms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Small (<20 ha) | <20 | <49 | 54% |
| Small (20-50 ha) | 20-50 | 49-124 | 16% |
| Medium (50-100 ha) | 50-100 | 124-247 | 12% |
| Large (100-200 ha) | 100-200 | 247-494 | 10% |
| Very Large (>200 ha) | >200 | >494 | 8% |
Source: DEFRA Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2023
Understanding UK Land Measurements in Practice
The UK occupies a unique position where both acres and hectares are used in everyday life. While hectares are the official metric unit used by the government and the Ordnance Survey, acres remain deeply embedded in the British property market and farming culture. Understanding when each unit applies can save confusion and costly mistakes.
Property Listings and Estate Agents
Most UK estate agents list rural properties and building plots in acres, even though the Land Registry records all titles in hectares. A typical UK building plot for a single house ranges from 0.1 to 0.25 acres (0.04 to 0.10 hectares). Smallholdings, increasingly popular for lifestyle buyers, usually start at around 5 acres (2 hectares), which is enough land to keep a few horses or run a small market garden. When reviewing property details, always check whether the advertised area refers to the total plot including the house footprint, or just the usable land. Solicitors and conveyancers will use the Land Registry's hectare figures in the legal transfer documents, so knowing both units prevents misunderstandings during the conveyancing process.
Agricultural Land Prices Across the UK
According to RICS and Savills, the average price of bare agricultural land in England was approximately £9,000-£10,000 per acre (£22,000-£25,000 per hectare) as of late 2024, though prices vary enormously by region and land quality. Prime arable land in East Anglia can fetch over £12,000 per acre, while upland grazing in Wales or Northern England may sell for under £3,000 per acre. The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), now being replaced by Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes under DEFRA, historically paid subsidies per hectare, making hectare literacy essential for UK farmers navigating the transition. The new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) also uses hectares as its standard measurement unit for payment calculations.
Planning Permission and Development
Local planning authorities in England use hectares in all planning documents and Local Development Plans. Housing density targets are expressed as dwellings per hectare (dph). Typical UK targets are 30-50 dph in suburban areas and 50-100+ dph in urban centres. For self-builders, knowing that one acre equals approximately 0.4047 hectares helps when reading planning policy documents and calculating whether your plot meets local density requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 acre equals 0.404686 hectares (or approximately 0.4 hectares). To convert acres to hectares, multiply the number of acres by 0.404686. For quick mental maths, divide acres by 2.5 to get an approximate hectare value.
1 hectare equals 2.47105 acres (or approximately 2.5 acres). To convert hectares to acres, multiply the number of hectares by 2.47105. For quick mental maths, multiply hectares by 2.5 to get an approximate acre value.
The UK officially adopted the metric system (including hectares) for land measurement in 1995. However, acres remain deeply embedded in British culture and are still widely used, especially in property listings and casual conversation. HM Land Registry accepts both measurements, so both systems coexist. Official agricultural statistics (DEFRA) use hectares, while estate agents often use acres because they're more familiar to British buyers.
A standard FIFA football pitch is approximately 1.76 acres (0.71 hectares). This means 1 acre is about 57% of a football pitch, or roughly half a pitch. A 2-acre field would be approximately the size of one football pitch. This is a useful visualisation when viewing land for sale.
The average UK farm is approximately 86 hectares (213 acres) as of 2023, according to DEFRA. However, this varies significantly by region: Scottish farms average around 100 hectares (247 acres), while Welsh farms average about 48 hectares (119 acres). Over 54% of UK farms are classified as "very small" at under 20 hectares (49 acres).
1 acre equals 4,046.86 square metres. For comparison, 1 hectare equals exactly 10,000 square metres (a square 100m × 100m). An acre is equivalent to a square approximately 63.6m × 63.6m.
When buying land in the UK, you'll typically encounter both measurements. Estate agents usually list residential properties with land in acres. Agricultural land and official documents often use hectares. Always clarify which unit is being used - a "10 acre" property is very different from "10 hectares" (24.7 acres). HM Land Registry accepts both, but your solicitor can advise on what appears in legal documents.
Related Calculators
Last Updated: February 2026 | This calculator provides accurate conversions between acres, hectares, and square metres. Land measurements are based on standard international definitions. For official land registry purposes, always consult with a qualified surveyor or solicitor. Agricultural statistics sourced from DEFRA Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2023.
Pro Tips for Accurate Results
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Understanding Your Results
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- 2025/26 updated - Using current rates and regulations
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