Convert Township to Section
Convert townships to sections instantly. 1 township = 36 section — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Section to Township converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Township
A township is a unit of area used in the US Public Land Survey System (PLSS), equal to 36 square miles (approximately 93.24 km²).
Defined by the Land Ordinance of 1785 as a 6-mile by 6-mile square, divided into 36 sections of 1 square mile each.
Townships are the largest standard unit in the PLSS and appear in US public land records, county boundaries, and historical land grants throughout the central and western US.
Defined by the US Land Ordinance of 1785.
Section
A section is a unit of area used in the US Public Land Survey System, equal to 1 square mile (640 acres or approximately 2.59 km²).
Defined by the Land Ordinance of 1785 as 1/36 of a township. Sections are numbered 1-36 within each township.
Sections are the fundamental unit of US public land records in PLSS states (essentially the central and western US). Property descriptions like 'NE quarter of section 14, township 3 north, range 2 east' use this system.
Defined by the US Land Ordinance of 1785.
Township to Section conversion formula
The relationship between townships and sections:
To convert townships to sections, multiply the value in townships by 36. To reverse, multiply sections by 0.0277777778.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in sections updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Section to Township converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert townships to sections
- Write down the value in townships (twp).
- Multiply that value by the factor 36.
- The product is the equivalent value in sections (sec).
- To reverse, multiply the section value by 0.0277777778.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 twp to sec:
1 × 36 = 36 sec
Example 2 — Convert 100 twp to sec:
100 × 36 = 3599.9999999963 sec
Township to Section conversion table
Standard reference values for converting townships to sections:
| Township [twp] | Section [sec] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.36 |
| 0.1 | 3.6 |
| 1 | 36 |
| 2 | 71.9999999999 |
| 3 | 107.9999999999 |
| 4 | 143.9999999999 |
| 5 | 179.9999999998 |
| 10 | 359.9999999996 |
| 20 | 719.9999999993 |
| 30 | 1079.9999999989 |
| 40 | 1439.9999999985 |
| 50 | 1799.9999999981 |
| 100 | 3599.9999999963 |
| 500 | 17999.9999999815 |
| 1000 | 35999.9999999629 |
Frequently asked questions
How many sections is 1 township?
How do I convert townships to sections?
How do I convert sections back to townships?
How many sections is 100 townships?
Popular area unit conversions
Convert Township to other area units
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Metric / SI (5 units)
Imperial / US Customary (3 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 twp = 36 sec) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.