Yard (yd)
A yard is exactly 3 feet, 36 inches, or 0.9144 meter. It is commonly used for fabric, landscaping, and field dimensions.
- Symbol
- yd
- System
- Imperial
- Meter value
- 0.9144 m
- Singular
- yard
- Plural
- yards
- Aliases
- yard, yards
What a yard measures
The yard is close to, but shorter than, a meter. Its exact relationships to the foot and inch make it convenient for customary measurements larger than a few feet.
- One yard contains exactly 3 feet.
- One yard contains exactly 36 inches.
- One yard equals exactly 0.9144 meter.
- A 100-yard span equals 300 feet.
Where yards are used
fabric lengthssports fieldslandscaping materialsshort outdoor distancesconstruction estimates
Definition and standardization
The international yard is defined as exactly 0.9144 meter.
The symbol is yd. Its relationship to feet and inches is exact: 1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in.
A yard should not be confused with a square yard, which measures area, or a cubic yard, which measures volume.
Measurement
Tools used to measure yards
- Tape measure for fabric and sites
- Measuring wheel for outdoor distances
- Surveying or layout equipment for fields and construction
Quality check
Common mistakes
- Treating yards as meters in rough estimates
- Confusing linear yards with square or cubic yards
- Multiplying feet by 3 when converting feet to yards instead of dividing
Yard questions
How many feet are in a yard?
There are exactly 3 feet in 1 yard.
Is a yard the same as a meter?
No. A yard is exactly 0.9144 meter, so a meter is about 9.36% longer.
How many inches are in a yard?
There are exactly 36 inches in 1 yard.