Complete guide to traditional and modern land measurement units used in Ireland. Convert between Irish acres, hectares, roods, perches, square metres, and square feet. Essential for property, agricultural land, and historical land records.
Acre IrelandHectare IrelandRood IrelandPerch IrelandSquare Metre IrelandSquare Foot Ireland
Ireland Land Unit Converter
Convert between traditional Irish land units and modern metric units instantly.
The traditional Irish acre was larger than the statute acre, approximately 1.6198 hectares or 7,840 square yards. Used historically in land grants and plantations.
1 Irish acre = 1.6198 hectares
1 Irish acre = 1.6 statute acres
1 Irish acre = 19,600 square yards
Rood
A traditional unit equal to one-quarter of an Irish acre. Commonly used in conjunction with acres and perches.
1 rood = 0.25 Irish acres
1 rood = 40 square perches
1 rood = 4,900 square yards
Square Perch (Pole/Rod)
The basic unit in the traditional system. A perch is a linear measure (16.5 feet) and a square perch is the area unit.
1 square perch = 30.25 square yards
1 square perch = 25.29 square metres
40 perches = 1 rood
Modern Units Used in Ireland
Hectare: Standard metric unit (10,000 m²)
Square Metre (m²): Common for smaller properties
Acre (Statute): 4,840 square yards or 0.4047 hectares
Square Foot: Used in property listings
Ireland Land Unit Conversion Table
Unit
Equivalent in Square Metres
Equivalent in Square Feet
Equivalent in Acres (Statute)
1 Irish Acre
6,950 m²
74,800 ft²
1.6198 acres
1 Statute Acre
4,047 m²
43,560 ft²
1 acre
1 Hectare
10,000 m²
107,639 ft²
2.471 acres
1 Rood
1,214 m²
13,068 ft²
0.25 Irish acres
1 Square Perch
25.29 m²
272.25 ft²
0.00625 acres
Historical Context
The traditional Irish land measurement system (acres, roods, perches) was widely used in land grants, plantation surveys, and historical records. While Ireland has officially adopted the metric system, these traditional units still appear in older deeds, maps, and agricultural contexts. The "Irish acre" or "plantation acre" was approximately 1.6 times larger than the statute acre used in England and modern Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an Irish acre and a statute acre?
An Irish acre (also called plantation acre) is approximately 1.6 times larger than a statute acre. 1 Irish acre = 1.6198 hectares = 7,840 square yards, while 1 statute acre = 0.4047 hectares = 4,840 square yards.
How many perches are in a rood in the Irish system?
There are 40 square perches in one rood. The traditional Irish land measurement hierarchy is: 1 acre = 4 roods = 160 perches.
What units are used in Ireland's land registry today?
The Property Registration Authority of Ireland primarily uses hectares and square metres for new registrations. However, older records may still show acres, roods, and perches, which are converted to metric equivalents.
How do I convert acres, roods and perches to decimal acres?
Use this formula: Decimal acres = Acres + (Roods ÷ 4) + (Perches ÷ 160). For example, 2 acres, 1 rood, 20 perches = 2 + (1/4) + (20/160) = 2 + 0.25 + 0.125 = 2.375 acres.
What is a 'square perch' equivalent to in square metres?
One square perch equals 25.29 square metres or 272.25 square feet. This is based on a linear perch of 16.5 feet (5.0292 metres).
Are Irish land units still used in property transactions?
While metric units (hectares, square metres) are standard for official purposes, traditional units may still be referenced in rural areas, agricultural land sales, and when dealing with historical properties. Always verify measurements in the contract.
How many square metres are in one hectare in Ireland?
One hectare equals exactly 10,000 square metres. This is the standard metric unit for land area used throughout Ireland for official measurements, land registry, and agricultural planning.