Convert Square Rod (rod²) to Square Rod (US Survey) (rod² (US)) instantly.
About these units
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.
Square Rod (US Survey) (rod² (US))
The US survey square rod is defined using the survey foot and differs negligibly from the international square rod. This distinction matters in legal contexts, especially when interpreting older property descriptions dating back to the 19th-century PLSS-era surveys. The unit persists primarily in legal documents and rural land records, ensuring that historical boundaries remain consistent even as measurement standards evolve.