How big is an acre? Even those who’ve owned land or lived on similar-sized parcels may not have a great grasp of exactly how much space it entails. So join us as we take a closer look and figure out exactly how much you can fit on an acre with some familiar and easy-to-visualize comparisons.
Table of contents
How Big Is An Acre?
There are several different ways to answer the question of how big is an acre. The most common is in terms of square feet.
An acre is precisely 43,560 square feet of any shape. We could also express this as 4,840 square yards. This measurement originates from the Anglo-Saxons, who defined it as a piece of land measuring one furlong by one-tenth of a furlong, which translates into roughly 660 feet by 66 feet.
In modern measurements, this area would cover 1/640 of a square mile. While this doesn’t sound like much in number terms, you might be surprised to find out what you could fit on an acre of land.
How Many Houses Can You Fit on an Acre?
To find out how many houses you can fit, you’ll need to do some simple math. You could build about 29 smaller-sized homes of approximately 1,500 square feet there if there’s no space between them.
Additionally, if the houses get larger, it drops to 21 medium-sized, 2,000 square foot homes or 14 large, 3,000 square foot homes.
However, the average American lot size is roughly a quarter-acre. By this standard, you could comfortably build four average homes on a single acre of land.
How Many RVs Can You Fit on an Acre?
This answer depends on what kind of RV you’re imagining. Most RVs and travel trailers are roughly eight and a half feet wide when in travel mode to easily fit in standard road lanes. However, they all come in different lengths.
Of small trailers or Class B RVs around 20 feet long, approximately 256 will fit.
Of medium-sized campers or smaller Class A or Class C RVs about 26 feet long, you could fit 197.
This number drops even further to 146 if you’re thinking of the biggest Class A or Super C models of about 35 feet.
However, if you’re truly thinking about having a roomy campsite, fewer RVs would fit.
Pro Tip: Class A, Class B, Class C, oh my! Read more to find out the differences in RV classes.
How Many People Can You Fit on an Acre?
Data shows Americans have an average of 15 inches in shoulder width. So, assuming an average depth of 1 foot, you’d find an average American takes up about 1.25 square feet. Packed as tightly as possible, you could fit 34,848 people!
Even giving everyone a little more room to breathe at 1.5 square feet per person means more than 29,000 people could still cram together onto an acre.
A List of Other Things You Can Fit on an Acre
Do you still find yourself wondering – how big is an acre? Well, let’s now break it down with a few other visualizations to help you get the sense of an acre’s magnitude. Other common size comparisons include six full-size tennis courts (at 7,200 square feet each).
Or roughly two-thirds of a football field (67,200 square feet, including end zones.)
Standard parking spots are approximately 9 feet wide by 18 feet long, meaning about 268 spots will fit on an acre with no space between them.
You could even fit 3,468 65” TVs lying flat!
Is An Acre Really That Big?
Whether or not an acre is “big” to you likely depends on where you live. Many city dwellers or those in populous suburbs would consider themselves lucky to have that much land, which can be 6-8 times larger than some lots. For these folks, this plot of land is enormous!
However, in rural areas, many landowners have properties of multiple acres. It’s not uncommon in some parts of the country for single owners to control dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of acres of land. Compared to these properties, a single acre isn’t big at all.
Whether an acre seems big will also depend on what is on that piece of land. An acre of forest feels completely different than an acre of field or an entire building.
Keep in Mind: Considering investing in full-time travel instead of land? Here is Why You Shouldn’t Buy an RV in 2021.
What Could You Do With An Acre of Land?
Regardless of what you’re comparing it to, an acre is a significantly sized piece of land. It can comfortably fit a large home in addition to outbuildings like garages, sheds, barns, or accessory dwelling units.
It also has enough room for a sizable parking lot, either for regular cars or RVs. Those who love sports can fit many athletic fields or courts on the space with room to spare, other than football or baseball fields.
So, how big is an acre? The answer is that it’s big enough for most common uses. The only real limit is your creativity and imagination!
What would you fill your own acre of land with? Drop a comment below!
Become A Mortons On The Move Insider
Join 10,000+ other adventurers to receive educating, entertaining, and inspiring articles about RV Travel Destinations, RV Gear, and Off-Grid Living to jump-start your adventures today!
Read More From The Mortons: