What Is Yard?
Yard is a unit used to measure length or distance. One yard is a little less than one meter. People use yards to measure things like rooms, gardens, and sports fields.
Definition
A yard is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems. By agreement, one yard equals exactly 0.9144 meters.
You can also think about a yard using other units:
- 1 yard equals 3 feet
- 1 yard equals 36 inches
- 1 yard equals 0.0005681818 miles
So when someone says something is 5 yards long, it is the same as 15 feet or 4.572 meters.
History / Origin
The idea of the yard is very old and started in England. Long ago, people often used parts of the body to measure things, such as a foot or the distance from a nose to a thumb. Over time, these rough measures were fixed into clear standard lengths.
By the 12th century, the yard was used as an official unit in England. Different kings tried to keep the yard the same by using special metal bars as a model. In the 19th and 20th centuries, countries agreed to connect the yard to the metric system. In 1959 the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English speaking countries agreed that 1 yard would be exactly 0.9144 meters. This is still the rule today.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The main symbol and short forms for yard are:
- yd is the standard symbol for yard
- yds is sometimes used for more than one yard
- yd. may also be seen in older texts
Examples:
- 10 yd means 10 yards
- 25 yds means 25 yards
Current Use Around the World
Today, most countries use the meter as the main unit of length, but yards are still common in some places and for some uses.
United States
- Yards are widely used in everyday life.
- Sports use yards, such as American football fields and golf courses.
- Some people measure cloth, fences, and yards of land with this unit.
United Kingdom and Ireland
- Road signs usually show distances in miles, not yards, but you may see yards in some places, such as older signs or directions.
- Sports like soccer pitches and rugby fields were once marked in yards but now are mostly measured in meters, although people may still speak about yards.
Other countries
- In most other countries, the yard is not used in daily life.
- Sometimes yards are used in trade with US or UK partners, for example when selling cloth or sports equipment.
Example Conversions
Here are some useful conversions between yards and other units.
Yards to meters
- 1 yard = 0.9144 meters
- 5 yards = 5 × 0.9144 = 4.572 meters
- 10 yards = 9.144 meters
- 50 yards = 45.72 meters
Meters to yards
- 1 meter ≈ 1.0936 yards
- 5 meters ≈ 5.468 yards
- 10 meters ≈ 10.936 yards
Yards to feet and inches
- 1 yard = 3 feet
- 2 yards = 6 feet
- 10 yards = 30 feet
- 1 yard = 36 inches
- 2 yards = 72 inches
Yards to centimeters
- 1 yard = 91.44 centimeters
- 3 yards = 274.32 centimeters
Yards to miles
- 1 mile = 1760 yards
- 880 yards = half a mile
Related Units
Units closely related to the yard include:
- Inch 1 yard = 36 inches
- Foot 1 yard = 3 feet
- Mile 1 mile = 1760 yards
- Meter 1 yard = 0.9144 meters
- Centimeter 1 yard = 91.44 centimeters
In the imperial and US customary systems, inches, feet, yards, and miles fit together in a chain. In the metric system, meters and centimeters connect to yards by fixed conversion numbers.
FAQs
How many feet are in a yard?
There are 3 feet in 1 yard. To change yards to feet, multiply the number of yards by 3. For example, 4 yards = 12 feet.
How many inches are in a yard?
There are 36 inches in 1 yard. To change yards to inches, multiply yards by 36. For example, 2 yards = 72 inches.
Is a yard the same as in the US and the UK?
Yes. The United States and the United Kingdom both use the same standard yard. In both places, 1 yard equals exactly 0.9144 meters.
How can I quickly change yards to meters?
A simple way is to remember that 1 yard is a little less than 1 meter. For a better answer, multiply yards by 0.9144. For example, 10 yards × 0.9144 = 9.144 meters.
Where are yards used most often?
Yards are used a lot in the United States for sports fields, golf courses, and some building and land measurements. They are less common in countries that mainly use meters.
Why do some people still use yards instead of meters?
Many people are used to yards because their parents and grandparents used them. Also, sports rules, old signs, and some trades were built around yards, so they are still in use today.