Texas Land Measures

There was a time when land was measured in terms of varas, poles and leagues. Although today land is seldom measured in rods or varas, you may find this list of approximate conversions helpful.

One section = 640 acres

One mile = 1,900.8 varas = 5,280 feet = 1,760 yards = 320 rods = 80 chains

One acre = 5645.4 square varas = 43,560 square feet = 4,840 square yards = 160 square rods = 75.13 varas square = 69.57 yards square = 208.7 feet square = 10 square chains.

One vara = 33-1/3 inches

100 feet = 36 varas. One link = 7.92 inches

One rod or pole = 25 links = 5.94 varas = 5 ½ yards = 16 ½ feet

One chain = 4 rods = 100 links = 22 yards = 66 feet = 23.76 varas

One league = 5,000 varas square = 13,889 feet square = 4,428.4 acres

One labor = 1,000 varas square = 2,788 feet square = 177.136 acres

One caballerias = 108 acres

To Convert:

Square feet to Acres: Divide by 43,560

Square Varas to Acres: Divide by 5645.4

Square Yards to Acres: Divide by 4,840

Feet to Varas: Multiply by .36

Yards to Varas: Multiply by 1.08

Varas to Feet: Divide by .36

Varas to Yards: Divide by 1.08