A square mile is 640 acres.
Square miles to Sections Converter — mi2 to section
Convert Square mile (mi2) to Section (section) using the exact conversion factor (1 square mile = 1 section). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Square miles to Sections converter
Converter
Area Converter
Convert land, construction, mapping, survey, and scientific area units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A US public land survey section is one square mile or 640 acres.
Result = input x 2.58998811e+6 / 2.58998811e+6.
Area uses the square meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Square miles to Sections
Comparing Square mile and Section is common in agriculture and real estate, where US land is typically measured in acres and most of the rest of the world uses hectares. Square mile is most often used for us city, county, and regional area statistics.
Formula
sections = square miles × 1
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 square mile equals 2589988.11034 base units, and 1 section equals 2589988.11034 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct square mile-to-section factor of 1.
Simple example
1 mi2 × 1 = 1 section
1 square mile = 1 section.
Real-world example
10 mi2 × 1 = 10 section
10 square miles = 10 sections.
Conversion table
| Square mile (mi2) | Section (section) |
|---|---|
| 1 mi2 | 1 section |
| 5 mi2 | 5 section |
| 10 mi2 | 10 section |
| 25 mi2 | 25 section |
| 50 mi2 | 50 section |
| 100 mi2 | 100 section |
Reverse conversion: Section to Square mile
1 section × 1 = 1 mi2
1 section = 1 square mile.
square miles = sections × 1
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Section to Square mile.
Understanding the Square mile
Square mile (mi2) measures area. A square mile is exactly 2,589,988.110336 square meters, derived from the international mile fixed in 1959. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.
Where it's used: United States (county, metro, and regional area reporting)
Uses of the Square mile today
- US city, county, and regional area statistics
- Population density reporting (people per square mile)
- Land-use and geography in US contexts
History of the Square mile
The square mile follows directly from the statute mile, itself fixed at exactly 1,609.344 meters by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; squaring that value gives the modern square mile.
Historical origin. Square mile was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Understanding the Section (section)
A US public land survey section is one square mile or 640 acres.
Square mile — sources
- NIST — International yard and pound (1959) — Basis for the modern mile and its derived area unit.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many sections are in 1 square mile?
1 square mile equals 1 section, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert square mile to section?
Multiply the square mile value by 1. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert section back to square mile?
Use the reverse factor: 1 section equals 1 square mile. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a square mile?
Square mile (mi2) measures area. A square mile is exactly 2,589,988.110336 square meters, derived from the international mile fixed in 1959. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.
What is a section?
Section (section) is a unit of area.
Is the square mile to section conversion exact?
Yes. A square mile is exactly 2,589,988.110336 square meters, derived from the international mile fixed in 1959. That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.
Where is the square mile still used today?
United States (county, metro, and regional area reporting)