Length · Unit Converter

Convert Square Kilometer to Barn

Convert square kilometers to barns instantly. 1 square kilometer = 1e+34 barn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Barn to Square Kilometer converter for the reverse conversion.

Written by Sunith Babu L, Ph.D., Lead Engineer Reviewed by Girish V Kulkarni Ph.D.
Length category 2 min read Published Last reviewed Updated

Units explained

Metric / SI

Square Kilometer

What is a square kilometer?

A square kilometer is a metric unit of area equal to 1,000,000 m² (one million square meters), or 100 hectares. It is used for measuring large land areas, regional geography, and country-scale statistics.

Origin of the square kilometer

Derived by squaring the kilometer (1000 m). The kilo- prefix comes from the Greek 'chilioi' (thousand).

Where it is used

Square kilometers express the area of cities, districts, lakes, forests, and entire countries. India's total area is approximately 3,287,263 km². 1 km² equals 100 hectares or about 247.105 acres.

When and where it was developed

Kilometer has been part of the metric system since 1795.

Scientific / Physics

Barn

What is a barn?

A barn is a scientific unit of area equal to exactly 10⁻²⁸ m² (100 fm²). It is used in nuclear and particle physics to express interaction cross-sections.

Origin of the barn

Named in 1942 at Purdue University by physicists working on the Manhattan Project. The name comes from the phrase 'big as a barn' — uranium nuclei have cross-sections this large, which physicists initially considered surprisingly large for nuclear targets.

Where it is used

Barns and their submultiples (millibarn, microbarn, nanobarn, picobarn, femtobarn) are the standard units for cross-section measurements in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, and accelerator experiments. The Higgs boson production cross-section at the LHC is in the picobarn range.

When and where it was developed

Named in 1942 during the Manhattan Project; adopted internationally in particle physics.

Square Kilometer to Barn conversion formula

The relationship between square kilometers and barns:

1 km² = 1e+34 b
1 b = 1e-34 km²

To convert square kilometers to barns, multiply the value in square kilometers by 1e+34. To reverse, multiply barns by 1e-34.

How to use this converter

Type a value into the calculator. The result in barns updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Barn to Square Kilometer converter for the reverse direction.

Step-by-step: convert square kilometers to barns

  1. Write down the value in square kilometers (km²).
  2. Multiply that value by the factor 1e+34.
  3. The product is the equivalent value in barns (b).
  4. To reverse, multiply the barn value by 1e-34.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Convert 1 km² to b:
1 × 1e+34 = 1e+34 b

Example 2 — Convert 100 km² to b:
100 × 1e+34 = 1e+36 b

Square Kilometer to Barn conversion table

Standard reference values for converting square kilometers to barns:

Square Kilometer [km²]Barn [b]
0.011e+32
0.11e+33
11e+34
22e+34
33e+34
44e+34
55e+34
101e+35
202e+35
303e+35
404e+35
505e+35
1001e+36
5005e+36
10001e+37

Frequently asked questions

How many barns is 1 square kilometer?
1 square kilometer equals 1e+34 barn.
How do I convert square kilometers to barns?
Multiply the value in square kilometers by 1e+34 to get barns.
How do I convert barns back to square kilometers?
Multiply the value in barns by 1e-34, or use the Barn to Square Kilometer converter.
How many barns is 100 square kilometers?
100 square kilometers equals 1e+36 barns, because 100 × 1e+34 = 1e+36.

Convert Square Kilometer to other area units

Show all Square Kilometer conversions
Metric / SI (15 units)
Imperial / US Customary (15 units)
US Survey (5 units)
Indian Subcontinent (16 units)
Other Regional (10 units)
Scientific / Physics (5 units)
Historical / Pre-metric European (6 units)

Sources & references

Conversion factor (1 km² = 1e+34 b) verified against the following authoritative sources:

Results are provided for general reference. Verify critical measurements against an authoritative standard.