Whether you plan to buy a new property or pledge your existing one for a mortgage loan, area conversion plays an important role. Besides determining the unit area, it also helps you match the measurements to that of the prescribed units for property conversions. This is when measuring units like hectare (ha) and acre (ac) come in use.
When scouting for a property, you look for factors such as infrastructure, amenities on offer and road connectivity to get the most from your investment. Likewise, to get the right property price, knowing the land area is vital. This knowledge will also be fruitful when you apply for a property loan.
Although both of these units are used to primarily measure land, there are certain characteristics that set them apart. Here are some of the pointers you need to consider when converting from hectares to acres or vice versa.
What is a hectare and an acre? Know the basis difference
Both hectare and acre are primarily land measuring units. However, 1 hectare makes 10,000 sq meters of a land area as opposed to an acre of land which is 4,047 sq meters. Simply put, an acre is 40% of a hectare.
An acre is generally used to measure pasture or agricultural lands, particularly those that can be ploughed in a day. While this land measuring unit is used all around the world, it is most common in the United States, United Kingdom and countries that were part of the erstwhile British Empire, such as India. On the other hand, a hectare is used to measure both agricultural and ownership lands including water bodies. The use of hectare is prevalent throughout the European Union.
The International Systems of Units (SI), the governing body for measuring all physical units of land, does not recognize hectares as a part of the metric unit. Although it is not officially accepted and declared, it is the legal unit to measure lands concerning ownership. Although the hectare is not listed by the SI, it has mentions in the SI brochure. Thus, the hectare still remains a non SI metric unit for land measurements.
How to do hectares to acres conversion and why it is important?
Since both of these land measuring units are used when buying or mortgaging a property, knowing hectares to acres conversion and vice versa is important. This will help you arrive at the right property price.
To do a hectares to acres conversion, simply multiply 1 hectare (which equals 10,000 sq meters or 2.4710 acres) by the acre equivalent (.i.e. 2.471 acres).
The formula to be used is: ac = ha x 2.4710
The calculation below offers a clearer picture of hectares to acres conversion.
To convert 6 hectares to acres, here’s how you will proceed:
ac = ha x 2.4710
= 6 x 2.4710
= 14.826 ac
In the same way, to arrive at acres to hectares conversion, divide hectare with its acre equivalent i.e. 2.471. The formula to be used is: ha= ac / 2.4710
So, you will take the following steps to convert 6 acres to hectares:
ha= ac / 2.4710
= 6 / 2.4710
= 2.4281 ha
Whether you are planning to get a property loan or buy land, knowing area conversion methods can help you a great deal. Begin by assessing the area unit to get the most accurate price and the property of your dreams!
You can also refer to an online area conversion calculator for quick calculations and to avoid any manual errors. Online calculators also offer varied conversion options such as acres to square feet among others. Using them, you can get accurate results instantly, irrespective of the measuring unit you choose.