What is a section in land measurement?

A section is a unit of area used in the U.S. Public Land Survey System equal to one square mile or 640 acres, commonly used for legal land descriptions.

How many square chains are in one section?

One section equals 6,400 square chains according to the defined conversion.

Why convert sections to square chains?

Converting sections to square chains helps interpret land areas in historically used imperial units like chains, aiding in legal documentation and cadastral surveying.

How to Convert from Section to Square chain [ch^2]

Learn how to convert from section units to square chain (ch^2), understanding their definitions, uses, and the conversion process for area measurement in land surveying and legal contexts.

Section

Square chain [ch^2]

Please check your input. It must be a valid numeric value.

Section to Square chain [ch^2] Conversion Table

Section	Square chain [ch^2]

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

Enter the ending number (positive decimal or integer > Start Value). Example: 10, 50, 100.

Interval

Enter the step size (positive decimal > 0 and < End Value – Start Value). Example: 1.0, 2.5.

Section to Square chain [ch^2] Conversion Table
Section	Square chain [ch^2]

Explore More Area Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This tool allows you to convert area measurements from sections, a large land unit used primarily in the U.S. Public Land Survey System, into square chains, a smaller imperial unit of area. It helps translate large parcel sizes into historically relevant units for precise land documentation.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the value in sections you want to convert
Select 'section' as the from unit and 'square chain [ch^2]' as the to unit
Click the convert button to see the equivalent area in square chains
Review conversion results and use the info for land measurement or documentation
Refer to examples if needed to understand multiple value conversions

Key Features

Converts area from section to square chain accurately based on established conversion rates
Supports land measurement units used in cadastral surveying and legal land descriptions
Browser-based and easy to use without requiring additional software
Provides clear understanding of unit definitions and practical use cases
Includes conversion examples for practical application

Examples

2 Sections equals 2 times 6400, resulting in 12,800 square chains [ch^2]
Half a Section (0.5) multiplied by 6400 gives 3,200 square chains [ch^2]

Common Use Cases

Describing rural property boundaries and legal land deeds in the United States
Cadastral surveying and township or range mapping for land administration
Agricultural planning and resource management at the parcel level
Interpreting older property records and deeds that reference square chains
Documenting areas on historical maps and legal land descriptions that use chains

Tips & Best Practices

Ensure large numeric results are handled carefully to avoid errors when converting sections to square chains
Use this conversion primarily for analyzing historic or legal documents referencing imperial units
Cross-check conversions when precision is critical due to historical measurement variations
Be aware that square chains are less common today and additional conversions may be needed for metric values
Use the conversion tool to improve clarity when comparing large land parcels in different unit systems

Limitations

Sections represent very large areas leading to large numbers in square chains that require careful handling
Square chains are less commonly applied in modern measurement systems, possibly causing confusion
Measurement accuracy can vary due to older surveying methods linked with historical units
Additional conversions may be necessary for metric compatibility since square chains are imperial
The tool does not provide precision beyond the defined conversion factor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a section in land measurement?: A section is a unit of area used in the U.S. Public Land Survey System equal to one square mile or 640 acres, commonly used for legal land descriptions.
How many square chains are in one section?: One section equals 6,400 square chains according to the defined conversion.
Why convert sections to square chains?: Converting sections to square chains helps interpret land areas in historically used imperial units like chains, aiding in legal documentation and cadastral surveying.

Key Terminology

Section: A land area unit in the U.S. Public Land Survey System equal to one square mile or 640 acres used for legal and cadastral purposes.
Square chain [ch^2]: An imperial unit of area representing the area of a square with sides one chain (66 feet), equal to 4,356 square feet or one-tenth of an acre.
Chain: A length unit equal to 66 feet used historically in land surveying, where one square chain equals the area of a square 66 feet per side.

Quick Knowledge Check

What area does one section represent?

One square mile

One square chain

One acre

How many square chains equal one section?

640

6400

Which of the following is a common use for this conversion?

Converting between metric units only

Interpreting historical land deeds

Measuring indoor floor areas

Share Us

Similar Calculators

Online Moment of Force Units Converter Online Force Units Converter Online Moment of Inertia Units Converter Online Flow Mass Units Converter Online Angle Units Converter