Convert Are (a) to Square Rod (rod²) instantly.
About these units
Are (a)
An are is a metric land unit equal to 100 m², originally invented during the development of the metric system but now largely overshadowed by the hectare (100 ares). Although rarely used independently in modern measurement, the are survives in real estate transactions in parts of Europe, where small land parcels—such as garden plots or rural homesteads—may be expressed in ares. It remains important historically, as it served as a transitional unit bridging the earliest metric innovations with modern large-scale land measurement practices.
Square Rod (rod²)
A square rod, also known as a perch or pole in some traditions, equals the area of a square one rod on each side (1 rod = 16.5 feet). This results in 272.25 square feet. Square rods were widely used in medieval English farming and early American surveying to measure garden plots, small fields, and building sites. Because land taxes were often assessed per rod, the unit became a practical economic tool as well. Though no longer widely used, the square rod appears in historical deeds and archival surveys, making it critical for land historians and legal property research.