UK Land Measurement Units

Complete guide to traditional and modern land measurement units used in the United Kingdom. Convert between acres, hectares, square metres, square feet, and traditional British units like roods and perches.

Acre Hectare Square Metre Square Foot Rood Perch

UK Land Unit Converter

1 Acre = 0.40468564224 Hectares

Common UK Land Conversions

From Unit To Unit Conversion Factor Example
1 Acre Hectares 0.40468564224 10 acres = 4.047 hectares
1 Hectare Acres 2.4710538147 5 hectares = 12.355 acres
1 Square Metre Square Feet 10.763910417 100 m² = 1,076.39 ft²
1 Acre Square Metres 4046.8564224 2 acres = 8,093.71 m²
1 Rood Square Metres 1011.7141056 4 roods = 4,046.86 m²
1 Perch Square Metres 25.29285264 40 perches = 1,011.71 m²
1 Square Mile Acres 640 0.5 sq mi = 320 acres

UK Land Measurement Units Explained

Modern Metric Units
Standardized

Hectare (ha): 10,000 square metres. Standard unit for larger land areas.

Square Metre (m²): Basic SI unit for area measurement.

Square Kilometre (km²): 1,000,000 square metres. Used for very large areas.

Traditional Imperial Units
Historical

Acre: 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square feet. Most common traditional unit.

Rood: ¼ acre or 1,210 square yards. Often used in old deeds.

Perch: Also called rod or pole. 30¼ square yards or 1/160 acre.

Building & Survey Units
Practical

Square Foot (ft²): Most common unit for property sizes.

Square Yard (yd²): 9 square feet. Used in construction.

Square Mile: 640 acres. Used for geographical areas.

Agricultural Units
Farmland

Acres Roods Perches: Traditional system: 1 acre = 4 roods = 160 perches.

ARP System: Still used in some land registry documents.

Farm Size: UK farms typically measured in hectares (average 87ha).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common land measurement unit in the UK?
The acre is the most common traditional unit, while hectares are standard for official and agricultural use. Square feet are commonly used for residential properties.
How many square metres are in one acre?
One acre equals exactly 4,046.8564224 square metres. This is the international acre measurement used in the UK.
What are roods and perches in land measurement?
Roods and perches are traditional British units. 1 acre = 4 roods = 160 perches. One perch equals 30¼ square yards or approximately 25.29 square metres.
When did the UK switch to metric for land measurement?
The UK began metrication in 1965. While hectares are now the official unit for land registration, acres remain in common use, especially in property and agriculture.
How big is a football pitch in acres?
A standard football pitch is about 1.76 acres (approximately 7,140 square metres). Regulation pitches range from 1.59 to 2.09 acres.
What is ARP in UK land records?
ARP stands for Acres, Roods, Perches - the traditional system used in UK land registry documents. Many older deeds still use this measurement system.