Yard Converter

About Yards (yd)

The yard (symbol: yd) is an English unit of length in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches. Since 1959, the international yard has been defined as exactly 0.9144 meters.

The origin of the yard is uncertain. Some suggest it was derived from the length of a man's arm or a double cubit. It has been a standard unit in England since at least the 10th century. Like other customary units, its precise length varied until the international agreement of 1959.

Yards are commonly used for:

• Measuring lengths of fabric.
• Distances in some sports, such as American football (field length in yards) and golf (driving distances).
• Shorter to medium land measurements, especially in informal contexts in countries using imperial units.
• Sizes of gardens and plots of land.
• Some construction materials, like carpet or concrete, may be sold by the cubic yard.

• 1 yard = 3 feet (ft)
• 1 yard = 36 inches (in)
• 1,760 yards = 1 statute mile (mi)
• 22 yards = 1 chain (Gunter's)

To help visualize a yard:

• A standard adult's stride is often close to one yard.
• The height of a kitchen counter is typically a bit less than a yard (around 36 inches).
• A baseball bat is usually a little less than a yard long.
• Many rulers are 1 foot long, so three of them end-to-end make a yard.