how big is 1 acre

One acre is exactly 43,560 square feet, which is about 4,840 square yards or approximately 4,047 square meters (0.4047 hectares). In more visual terms, a square acre would be about 208.7 feet on each side (or about 69.57 yards). It is roughly 90% of the size of a standard American football field (not including end zones). Historically, an acre was defined as a piece of land one chain by one furlong (66 feet by 660 feet). It is a flexible unit, so the shape of the acre can vary as long as the total area is 43,560 square feet.