Formulas for acres of land

Paul B · Mar 1st, 2002, 05:31 PM

I want to find out how many acres there are in an area, I know how to do it if the land is somewhat square, 43560 sq.ft. to the acre, what I need is to know the mathematical formulas to add the perimeter, property line, up and get the acres from it. Thanks

Tom Urtis · Mar 1st, 2002, 05:44 PM

The conversion part is easy as you say, but the problem lies in which formula to use to determine area. Land parcels can come in all shapes (square, rectangular, circular, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.), with irregular property lines, such as if bordered by a stream or hillside.

More theory in this reply than example unfortunately.

I'm a real estate broker in California, not trying to give you a difficult answer, just that maybe you can look at formulas dealing with geometric shapes as a way to attack this.

Tom Urtis

Paul B · Mar 1st, 2002, 05:51 PM

Thanks tom I will check into that, but I was hoping someone might have the formulas to do this, I am fairly sure that a survey company can take the property line in feet and get the number of acres, using some mathematical formulas.

Tom Urtis · Mar 1st, 2002, 06:07 PM

Many Excel books will have these formulas, such as John Walkenbach's Excel Formulas book, in the chapter "Miscellaneous Calculations".

Be careful (here's the broker in me coming out), nothing gets purchasers of land or buildings angrier -- and more quickly -- than learning that the quantity of square feet or acres they paid for is less than what they were told. I can tell you, I sleep better at night when I hand the land size questions over to a professional surveyor.

Good luck.

Tom Urtis

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Mar 1st, 2002, 05:31 PM	#1
Paul B Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 544	I want to find out how many acres there are in an area, I know how to do it if the land is somewhat square, 43560 sq.ft. to the acre, what I need is to know the mathematical formulas to add the perimeter, property line, up and get the acres from it. Thanks

Mar 1st, 2002, 05:44 PM	#2
Tom Urtis MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: San Francisco, California USA Posts: 10,387	The conversion part is easy as you say, but the problem lies in which formula to use to determine area. Land parcels can come in all shapes (square, rectangular, circular, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.), with irregular property lines, such as if bordered by a stream or hillside. More theory in this reply than example unfortunately. I'm a real estate broker in California, not trying to give you a difficult answer, just that maybe you can look at formulas dealing with geometric shapes as a way to attack this. Tom Urtis

Mar 1st, 2002, 05:51 PM	#3
Paul B Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 544	Thanks tom I will check into that, but I was hoping someone might have the formulas to do this, I am fairly sure that a survey company can take the property line in feet and get the number of acres, using some mathematical formulas.

Mar 1st, 2002, 06:07 PM	#4
Tom Urtis MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: San Francisco, California USA Posts: 10,387	Many Excel books will have these formulas, such as John Walkenbach's Excel Formulas book, in the chapter "Miscellaneous Calculations". Be careful (here's the broker in me coming out), nothing gets purchasers of land or buildings angrier -- and more quickly -- than learning that the quantity of square feet or acres they paid for is less than what they were told. I can tell you, I sleep better at night when I hand the land size questions over to a professional surveyor. Good luck. Tom Urtis