How Many Square Metres Are 1 Are and 1 Hectare of Land?
How many square metres is 1 are is a question that frequently comes up when buying land, a plot or when reading Belgian property listings. 1 are (a) is exactly 100 m², while 1 hectare (ha) covers 10,000 m² - a significant difference that is crucial when calculating prices. These units come from the metric system and are mainly used for agricultural land, building plots and parcels. Getting the conversion wrong can lead to costly mistakes when investing or purchasing. This article explains how to convert them and what they mean for the Belgian property market.
How many square metres is 1 are?
One are is a unit of area equal to 100 square metres, equivalent to a rectangle of 10 m × 10 m.
Conversion:
- 1 a = 100 m²
- m² to a: divide by 100 (e.g. 500 m² = 5 a)
| Are (a) | m² |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 5 | 500 |
| 10 | 1,000 |
| 25 | 2,500 |
| 100 | 10,000 |
Ares are often used for medium-sized plots such as gardens or small building plots (ca for centiare = 1 m²).
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Compare agents →How much is 1 hectare of land?
1 hectare = 100 ares = 10,000 m² (100 m × 100 m).
Conversion:
- 1 ha = 10,000 m²
- m² to ha: divide by 10,000 (e.g. 50,000 m² = 5 ha)
| Hectare (ha) | m² |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 100 |
| 0.1 | 1,000 |
| 1 | 10,000 |
| 10 | 100,000 |
The hectare is the standard unit for agricultural land and large plots.
Why are these units used in real estate?
In Belgium, ares and hectares appear in:
- Cadastral records: plots are expressed in a/ha/ca.
- Agricultural land: average price of €68,934/ha (2024, ~€6.89/m²).
- Building plots: size expressed in ares (e.g. 8-are garden).
- Property listings: plot size.
Agricultural land prices (2024-2025):
| Province / Region | Price/ha (€) | Price/m² (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Flanders average | 68,934 | 6.89 |
| West Flanders | Higher (~€80k/ha) | ~€8 |
| Luxembourg province | Lower (~€37k/ha) | ~€3.70 |
Prices rise annually by ~2-3%.
Practical examples for buyers
- Plot of 10 ares (1,000 m²): typical garden for a terraced house.
- Agricultural plot of 1 ha (10,000 m²): costs ~€70,000, ideal as an investment.
- Plot conversion: 2.5 ha = 25,000 m² = 250 ares.
Tip: check the cadastral plan via Myloopings for the exact m².
Investment perspective
Buying land by the are or hectare pays off over the long term: agricultural land generates rental income through farming leases (~€343/ha/year). Building land is more expensive per m², but holds potential for rezoning.
When selling, clear communication in ares/m² prevents disputes.
For an accurate valuation of your plot or property with land, request a free estimate. A real estate agent will handle the conversions and place them in the context of current market prices.
Aydan Arabadzha
Oprichter & Strategist
"Tech entrepreneur and strategist focused on digital transformation in the real estate sector."
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