Townships to Square Miles Converter

Convert between townships, square miles, acres and square kilometres in one place. This tool is based on the standard U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS) definition, where one township is a 6×6 mile square (36 square miles).

Ideal for surveyors, GIS professionals, planners and students who need quick, transparent conversions between PLSS townships and regular area units.

Township area converter

PLSS-based
Conversion direction

Accepts decimal values for partial or fractional townships (e.g. 0.25 townships).

Results (standard township, 36 sq mi)

Townships (PLSS):
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Square miles (mi²):
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Acres:
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Square kilometres (km²):
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Enter a value and click “Convert area” to compute the equivalent in townships, square miles, acres and square kilometres.

Quick township to square miles table

Use this table for fast back-of-the-envelope estimates. All values assume a full, standard PLSS township with an area of exactly 36 square miles.

Townships Square miles (mi²) Acres Square kilometres (km²)

1 square mile = 640 acres ≈ 2.589988 km². 1 township = 36 square miles = 23,040 acres ≈ 93.24 km².

What is a township in the U.S. Public Land Survey System?

In the U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a standard township is a square that measures 6 miles on each side. Its theoretical area is therefore:

Township area

Township area = 6 miles × 6 miles = 36 square miles

Each township is subdivided into 36 sections of roughly one square mile each. These sections are used as the building blocks for legal land descriptions in many U.S. states.

Key relationships

  • 1 township = 36 square miles
  • 1 square mile = 640 acres
  • 1 township = 36 × 640 = 23,040 acres
  • 1 square mile ≈ 2.589988 km²
  • 1 township ≈ 36 × 2.589988 ≈ 93.24 km²

Conversion formulas used in this calculator

Townships to square miles

Formula

square miles = townships × 36

Square miles to townships

Formula

townships = square miles ÷ 36

Acres and square kilometres

Formulas

acres = square miles × 640
square kilometres = square miles × 2.589988

Combining these:
acres = townships × 36 × 640 = townships × 23,040
square kilometres ≈ townships × 36 × 2.589988

Practical examples

Example 1 – How large is 2 townships?

Suppose a land planning document refers to an area of 2 townships.

  1. Square miles: 2 × 36 = 72 square miles.
  2. Acres: 72 × 640 = 46,080 acres.
  3. Square kilometres: 72 × 2.589988 ≈ 186.5 km².

Example 2 – How many townships is 180 square miles?

If a regional study quotes an area of 180 square miles, the approximate number of standard townships is:

  1. Townships = 180 ÷ 36 = 5 townships.
  2. Acres = 180 × 640 = 115,200 acres.
  3. Square kilometres ≈ 180 × 2.589988 ≈ 466.2 km².

Limitations and legal considerations

The PLSS definition of a township is theoretical. In the real world, many townships are irregular or fractional due to:

  • meridian convergence and correction lines,
  • state and national borders,
  • rivers, lakes and other natural features.

As a result, the actual surveyed area can differ from the ideal 36 square miles. This calculator:

  • assumes full, regular townships,
  • is intended for planning, educational and rough-estimate purposes,
  • is not a substitute for official survey data in legal or cadastral work.

For any legally binding land description or transaction, always refer to the official survey plats and records from the relevant land management agency.

Frequently asked questions about townships and square miles

Is “township” a unit of area or a political unit? ▾
In the PLSS context, a township is a survey unit of area (about 36 square miles). In some states, “township” is also used as a local government term. This calculator focuses solely on the survey unit as a measure of area.
Why does this calculator assume exactly 36 square miles? ▾
The legal definition of a standard PLSS township is 6 miles by 6 miles, which equals 36 square miles. Although real surveyed townships can deviate slightly, using 36 square miles is standard practice for planning-level and educational calculations.
Can I use this tool for fractional townships or partial sections? ▾
Yes. The calculator accepts decimal inputs, so you can model 0.5 townships, 0.25 townships or any partial area expressed in townships or square miles. The underlying relationships between townships, square miles, acres and square kilometres remain the same.
How accurate are the conversions to square kilometres? ▾
The conversion from square miles to square kilometres uses the standard factor 1 mi² = 2.589988110336 km², which is accurate to many decimal places. Rounding in the display is for readability and does not affect practical planning calculations.
Can I rely on this tool for legal land descriptions? ▾
No. This tool is designed for convenience and education. Legal land descriptions must always be based on official surveys, plats and records issued by the appropriate land management or cadastral authority.