Home Costs > How Much Does an Acre of Land Cost?
Written by:Howmuchisit.org Staff
Last Updated:August 15, 2018
If you want to invest in real estate, specifically a parcel of land, there are prior considerations you should take concerning your budget and the knowledge of the cost per acre.
How much is an acre?
The geographical location is key with real estate. An acre of land can cost as little as a few dollars to as much as a few million dollars. The pricing is very hard to pinpoint unless you know exactly where you want to search. Msn.com said New Jersey has the highest average at about $196,400 per acre.
Farmland, for example, can be between $5,000 to $8,000 per acre. There can be cheaper land in some locations with an average cost of around $1,000-$5,000 per acre, and these are areas that have no timber or structures. In 2015, the average acre in the United States sold for $3,020. The highest farm values were in the Corn Belt region, where land sold for $6,350 per acre.
Land with timber may vary according to the age of the timber.Thiswill cost about $3,000 per acre.
As for residential, land in largely undeveloped areas will be significantly less than land in highly developed areas were roads, housing and other structures are readily available.
Land appropriate for commercial building construction may sell at $10,000 an acre or even more, again, depending on the location.
According to this HouseRepairTalk.com forum thread, forum membersstated that an acre of land in Nebraska can cost $8,000 per acre while an acre in Texas can cost upwards of $6,000.
The website LandWatch.com is a classified website that allows you to browse state and international properties. On this website, you can search by city, the number of acres you want, the prices you’re willing to pay, and you can get a general idea of what it may cost.
The prices below are acreage prices by state. Remember, this is an average. This is based on farmland only via a USDA land value report. Take this information with a grain of salt because you will find that all land spread across the United States within these states will vary a lot.
| State | Price Avg per Acre |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,000 |
| Alaska | $2,300 |
| Arizona | $3,700 |
| Arkansas | $2,700 |
| California | $7,000 |
| Colorado | $1,200 |
| Connecticut | $12,000 |
| Delaware | $8,000 |
| Florida | $5,000 |
| Georgia | $3,800 |
| Hawaii | $15,000 |
| Idaho | $2,000 |
| Illinois | $5,800 |
| Indiana | $4,900 |
| Iowa | $5,700 |
| Kansas | $1,300 |
| Kentucky | $3,000 |
| Louisiana | $2,300 |
| Maine | $2,200 |
| Maryland | 7,900 |
| Massachusetts | $11,000 |
| Michigan | $4,000 |
| Minnesota | $4,000 |
| Mississippi | $2,700 |
| Missouri | $2,700 |
| Montana | $800 |
| Nebraska | $1,800 |
| Nevada | $1,000 |
| New Hampshire | $4,800 |
| New Jersey | $13,000 |
| New Mexico | $600 |
| New York | $13,000 |
| North Carolina | $4,600 |
| North Dakota | $900 |
| Ohio | $4,500 |
| Oklahoma | $1,400 |
| Oregon | $2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $13,000 |
| South Carolina | $3,000 |
| South Dakota | $1,200 |
| Tennessee | $3,800 |
| Texas | $1,800 |
| Utah | $1,900 |
| Vermont | $2,800 |
| Virginia | $4,500 |
| Washington | $2,100 |
| West Virginia | $2,800 |
| Wisconsin | $4,100 |
| Wyoming | $600 |
The USDA created a report showing us the average farm related value per acre. This information is from 2011-2016.
Factors that affect the price:
Location
We all know that the geographical location is key in terms of real estate. Land located in a high crime area will cost a lot less than land in an area high in demand such as Hawaii.
Size
Generally, the more acres you purchase, the more you can save. This isn’t always the case, though. Again, this is going to widely depend on where the land is located.
Type
There are a few different types of land available. Popular types can include hunting, timberland, waterfront, farms, home sites and international.
What is going to be included in the estimates?
When you buy land, the timber, structures, and other developments are included unless stated differently in the purchasing contract.
Included in the price will be the recording deeds, mapping, regulatory permits, and other various paperwork related to the state you purchased the land in. However, this depends on the seller and the buyer-seller agreements.
How big is an acre of land? Approximately 43,560 square feet.
What are the extra costs?
Property taxis one of the extra costs to consider.
Surveying may be included in the price or sometimes the buyer will have to add this as an extra cost. A surveyor may also be needed before you purchase the land to test the soil.
Make sure you consider the cost of developing the land if this is your intention.
Building a home will obviously be an additional cost, but remember that all cities will more than likely require permits and approval before you build the home.
The cost of clearing land per acre can be anywhere from as little as $100 per acre with little vegetation to as much as $6,000 per acre with a lot filled with hundreds of mature trees.
Tips to know
While it’s common to purchase land with cash, a lender appraisal will be necessary if you want to secure a land loan.
Check the utilities before buying the land, especially if you plan on building on the lot. Sometimes water rights won’t run with the land, and this means you won’t be able to dig a well. Check the water table and determine the difficulty of digging. Aside from water, what utilities are nearby? Can you get cable services? What about electricity? If there’s no sewer available, what would a septic system cost?
If you can only access your land by going through an adjoining parcel, it’s important to have an easement recorded. You will want to find out who maintains the road and what your neighbors have to do to access their land. It’s always wise to obtain title insurance.
Pay close attention to the elevation, especially if building on a side of a cliff or near water. If you were to build, are you in a flood zone? Could there be a potential landslide?
Always check the zoning requirements to determine what kind of home you can build before committing to the land.
How can I save money?
The best way to save money on land purchases is by talking with a few local real estate agents. Since these agents will know the area best, they may know of some land that meets your qualifications.
Don’t forget that you can negotiate on the price. Almost all real estate transactions never sell for full price.
Try to look for types of land where you can save money, even if you will still incur extra costs down the road for the land developments and facilities. Usually, developed areas are priced too high, and when you compare the amount you will spend in improving the land, you will find that you can get more savings by simply buying the already developed land.
Make lists of the possible expenses you may have and make comparisons; ask someone to help you figure out the best buy.
Check local tax assessor records or Zillow.com to see what land has sold for in the area. By doing this, it will give you an idea of what the land may be worth.
LandCentury allows you to search vacant land for less than $1,000 per acre.
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Average Reported Cost: $26529.17
100 %
0 %
Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k
How much did you spend?
- Jenny(Garland, Maine) paid $ and said:
I inherited just under 33 acres where Campbell Rd and Day Rd intersect in Garland, ME. It is actually on Day Rd. Trying to figure out the value of the property.
Was it worth it? Yes
- tom(South shore , Kentucky) paid $180000 and said:
home purchase
Was it worth it? Yes
- Herman(Farmville, Virginia) paid $ and said:
Purchased 10 aces in Cumberland va. With small pond and house with 685 sq feet.
See AlsoAbout us - Dr. Sokolovskiy | Batavia Family DentalPomeranian Puppies For Sale in Martinsburg West VirginiaFind top rated mortgage advisors in Ayr - Nuts About MoneyChimney Cleaning Brushes and SuppliesWas it worth it.
Was it worth it? Yes
- Vermillion(Tonica, Illinois) paid $ and said:
1/2 mile of river frontage included
Was it worth it? Yes
(Video) How Big Is An Acre Of Land - And How Much Do You Need..? 🤔🤔🤔🤔 - sharon(porter, Maine) paid $30000 and said:
no road frontage,right a way driveway,wetlands each side
Was it worth it? Yes
- Louella Williams(Gresham, South Carolina) paid $ and said:
3000
Was it worth it? Yes
- Dale(Sargents, Colorado) paid $ and said:
155 acres bordering National Forrest, 100 year old primitive cabin, barn, year round spring.
Was it worth it? Yes
- marlene F Binns(Freeport, Ohio) paid $5000 and said:
$5,000 for 5 acres in 1985
Was it worth it? Yes
- junior(Banquete , Texas) paid $3500.00 and said:
1 acre vacant lot without a house or utility resources off co. Rd. 44 and F.M. 666
Was it worth it? Yes
- Francine T.(Battle Mountain, Nevada) paid $3750 and said:
3750 per acre
Was it worth it? Yes
- Alex(Keithville, Louisiana) paid $95000 and said:
11 acres in Keithville, La. with a pond. Is this too much?
Was it worth it? Yes
- Keith Hinshaw(Haviland, Kansas) paid $1100 and said:
160 acres
Was it worth it? Yes
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FAQs
How much is an acre of land UK 2021? ›
LAND PRICES IN ENGLAND
Arable land has sold for between £6,800 and £15,800/acre across the first six months of 2021 (H1), with a Q2 average of £9,000/acre.
What is the average price of land in UK? The average value of farmland in the UK rose to £9,700 per acre in 2021, with most sales agreed seeing the land average between £8,000 to £10,000 per acre.
How much is land per acre UK? ›The cost of farmland
The average price of bare agricultural land in England and Wales has risen from £6,979 per acre to £7,030 per acre in the first quarter of 2019.
1 football field is roughly 1 acre. (The exact measurements of football fields vary.) 1 hectare = 2.47 acres. 2.47 football fields in 1 hectare.
Does land add value to a house? ›Many first-time home buyers believe the physical characteristics of a house will lead to increased property value. But in reality, a property's physical structure tends to depreciate over time, while the land it sits on typically appreciates in value.
What size is an acre UK? ›acre, unit of land measurement in the British Imperial and United States Customary systems, equal to 43,560 square feet, or 4,840 square yards. One acre is equivalent to 0.4047 hectare (4,047 square metres).
Where is land cheapest in the UK? ›...
So let's take a look at our ranking for the 5 cheapest places to buy land in the UK.
- Sunderland. ...
- Copeland. ...
- Port Talbot. ...
- Elgin. ...
- Merthyr Tydfil.
The short answer is yes. You can live off the grid in the UK and start experiencing a free and independent life. More than that, living off the grid also means you save a lot of money in the long run. The environment will supply you with energy, heat, water and food.
How many lots are in an acre? ›The median lot size for new single-family homes is 0.19 acres or 8,276 square feet. That means around five average-sized home lots can fit on one acre.
Where is the cheapest land in the US? ›New Mexico is the state with the cheapest land according to our land prices per acre page. This is largely due to the fact that it has a lot of of rural desert acreage.
Where is the cheapest land per acre in the US? ›
InMyArea.com performed a study that took a look at the median prices per acre in 2021 and found that Arizona had the cheapest median cost per acre, at $4,164. The data includes the price of land with existing homes and the cost of land designated as a homesite were also included so that you can have some comparison.
How big is an acre visually? ›The simplest way to visualize an acre is as a square. In other words, the piece of land has the same length and width. Knowing that an acre has 43,560 square feet, that would mean that the land is approximately 208 feet long by 208 feet wide.
How do you work out price per acre? ›Add up the value of all the parcels you want to include in your average, if there's more than one. Divide by the total land area. That's your value per acre.
How big is a acre in Mile? ›Description. One acre equals 1⁄640 (0.0015625) square mile, 4,840 square yards, 43,560 square feet, or about 4,047 square metres (0.4047 hectares) (see below).
How many acres is good for a house? ›Generally speaking, if you are just looking to build a single-family home, an acre should be enough. That is unless you want herds of cattle roaming around and no neighbors in sight. However, if you are looking for recreational land, you will likely need more than an acre depending on what you want to do.
How big is a square 40 acres? ›40 acres would be equal to 43,560 square feet x 40 which is 1,742,400 square feet.
How big is 100 acres on a map? ›Square miles is a common metric when referring to large areas of land which most travelers are familiar with, given that distances on maps are given in miles. However, here we are talking about square miles which measures the area of land rather than just distance. 100 acres is 0.156 square miles.
Will land ever lose its value? ›According to the IRS: Land can never be depreciated. Since land cannot be depreciated, you need to allocate the original purchase price between land and building. You can use the property tax assessor's values to compute a ratio of the value of the land to the building.
Is buying land a good investment? ›Overall, buying undeveloped land is a great investment, no matter what year it is. But you have to understand that raw land investing is a long-term strategy and may not pay off right away. If you are looking for a quick payday or immediate cash flow, you're better off sticking to traditional investment properties.
What decreases property value? ›Your property value is often out of your control. Changes in the real estate market can lower the value of your home. Natural disasters and climate change can lower your property value because the property is a greater risk to purchase. Foreclosures in your neighborhood can also drive down property value.
Is a football field 1 acre? ›
Basically if you can picture a football field, that's pretty close to an acre in size. Officially, it is 43,560 square feet, and a football field is 48,000 square feet.
How long does it take to walk 1 acre? ›On average, a person walks around 3 to 4 miles per hour and covers 4 feet per second. It should take you 35 seconds to cover 1 acre. To walk 5 acres, it will take you 175 seconds which is around 3 minutes. What is this?
Is a football field an acre UK? ›An acre is a unit of area containing 4,046 square metres and approximately the same size as one half of a football (soccer) pitch OR 16 tennis courts.
How much does it cost to build a house UK? ›House Build Cost per Square Metre in the UK
Building costs in the UK start from £1,750 per square metre. And, In 2022, a cost estimation for a house is anywhere between £1,750 and £3,000 per m2.
Anyone can buy land to build on in the UK; you are not required to have UK citizenship to buy land here. However, getting permission to build on it is another matter. Overseas buyers may have the right to buy land, but land with planning permission to build can be hard to find.
Where is the nicest and cheapest place to live in England? ›...
The UK's most affordable areas to live in 2022.
| 1 | |
| Town | Shildon |
| Local Authority | County Durham |
| Average property value | £71,000 |
| Combined average salary of two local buyers | £62,500 |
Your caravan can be used as an extension of the main home, for example as an extra bedroom, but it will need to be used by the same people that occupy the main house. If the land is currently empty and you're building a property, you can live in your caravan as a temporary main dwelling.
Can I live in a caravan on my own land? ›You are not allowed to keep a touring caravan on your land as a permanent and separate dwelling. Meaning, whomever is using the caravan must still be using the main home as their main residence. The users of the caravan must be residents of the main home.
Can I buy a field and put a caravan on it? ›You can place the caravan on the land as long as it is incidental to the use of the land. It needs to be pointed out that it is not the actual caravan that changes the use of the land, rather what the caravan is used for. If it is used to store supplies used for the land, there should be no issues.
How many tiny houses can fit on an acre? ›So, How Many Houses Can Fit? Under perfect conditions, you will usually have about five standard-sized homes on an acre of land and as many as 14 tiny houses if you don't need to worry about parking and other amenities.
What is a normal lot size? ›
In California, that decline in lot size is more acute than most places in the United States. At 8,327 square feet per lot, California's average size is only larger than that of Nevada at 7,405 square feet per lot, the report said.
How big is an acre? ›An acre measures an area of land and is about 70 yards by 70 yards, which means about 4,900 square yards (or roughly 44,000 square feet).
Is land a good investment 2022? ›You might wonder, is buying land a good investment in 2022? The quick answer is YES! Of course, it may not suit all people, but investors who want to diversify their portfolio and make good profits must consider land. Land investment is a crucial real estate investment you want to know about.
Why is land in New Mexico so cheap? ›Land values are traditionally cheaper than surrounding states, exasperating the relevancy of cheaper property taxes as owners will pay less tax overall. Which essentially means the maintenance and cost of upkeeping the property are considerably cheaper than most other states that border New Mexico.
What state is the cheapest to build a house? ›Oklahoma. Cheap labor and building costs help Oklahoma land in the No. 1 spot for the cheapest places to build a home. The average cost to build an 1,800-square-foot home here is the lowest in the U.S.
Why is some land so cheap? ›The reason that undeveloped land is so cheap is that the parcel has received a lack of investment, it's less profitable, and often involves more work for the landowner. In addition, undeveloped land may have poor utility access, easements, and strict zoning laws.
How much does 1 acre cost in Tennessee? ›Statewide, an average acre of Tennessee land is worth $14,400, but it's all about location. The average sales amount for a 251,911 square foot lot in one of Unicoi County's prime locations is $59,408, according to FindAnyAnswer.com. Tennessee's $14,400 per acre average cost compares to $12,100 in the lower 48 states.
How many football fields is 2 acres? ›If you calculate the entire area of a football field, including the end zones, it works out to 57,600 square feet (360 x 160). One acre equals 43,560 square feet, so a football field is about 1.32 acres in size.
How long is half an acre? ›An acre is 43560 square feet so half an acre is 43560/2 = 21780 square feet. If your 1/2 acre plot of land is a square with area 21780 square feet then each side is of length √21780 feet.
How many miles long is 14 acres? ›| 1 acres = | 0.0395 miles | 1 miles = |
|---|---|---|
| 14 acres = | 0.1479 miles | 14 miles = |
| 15 acres = | 0.1531 miles | 15 miles = |
| 16 acres = | 0.1581 miles | 16 miles = |
| 17 acres = | 0.163 miles | 17 miles = |
How do you determine cost of land? ›
Estimate the market value of land
The most appropriate method of estimating the land value is the direct comparison method, where the current price of land is obtained from the value of recently sold plots of land. It is the market value that you would pay for the land today if it was vacant.
Land value may be determined by real estate appraisals conducted by third parties. An appraiser's assessment can be crucial to a lender's decisions on offering to finance a prospective buyer or refinancing for a property holder. Appraisal of the land can include a comparison of its condition to similar real estate.
What is cost per square foot? ›A home's price per square foot is equal to the list price divided by its total square footage. For example, if a 1,000-square-foot home is listed for $200,000, the price per square foot is $200: 200,000 ÷ 1,000 = 200.
Is 200 ft by 200 ft an acre? ›200 feet multiplying by 200 feet equal to 40,000 square feet. Hence, 40,000 square feet divide by 43,560 square feet equals to 0.92 acres approximately.
How wide is two acres? ›An acre is 43560 square feet in an acres so 2 acres is 87120 square feet. If it is in the shape of a square then each side is √87120 = 295.16 feet so once around is 1180.64 feet.
How big is a lot of land? ›In cities, the average lot size has dropped below one-fifth of an acre, when only a few years ago the average was higher. So, this means less space for each home or establishment in cities in America. The average lot size is around 8,600 square feet.
What size is an acre UK? ›acre, unit of land measurement in the British Imperial and United States Customary systems, equal to 43,560 square feet, or 4,840 square yards. One acre is equivalent to 0.4047 hectare (4,047 square metres).
How do you value land in the UK? ›In the UK we currently use the 'residual method' to estimate the value of land, using real estate values of properties (which reflect the combined price of the land and the building) and deducting the value of the buildings to derive the value of land residually.
How big is a acre in Mile? ›Description. One acre equals 1⁄640 (0.0015625) square mile, 4,840 square yards, 43,560 square feet, or about 4,047 square metres (0.4047 hectares) (see below).
How do I buy land in the UK? ›Anyone can buy land to build on in the UK; you are not required to have UK citizenship to buy land here. However, getting permission to build on it is another matter. Overseas buyers may have the right to buy land, but land with planning permission to build can be hard to find.
Is a football field 1 acre? ›
Basically if you can picture a football field, that's pretty close to an acre in size. Officially, it is 43,560 square feet, and a football field is 48,000 square feet.
How do you visualize 1 acre? ›The simplest way to visualize an acre is as a square. In other words, the piece of land has the same length and width. Knowing that an acre has 43,560 square feet, that would mean that the land is approximately 208 feet long by 208 feet wide. Thinking of it in those terms is much easier than tens of thousands!
How long does it take to walk 1 acre? ›On average, a person walks around 3 to 4 miles per hour and covers 4 feet per second. It should take you 35 seconds to cover 1 acre. To walk 5 acres, it will take you 175 seconds which is around 3 minutes. What is this?
Where is land cheapest in the UK? ›...
So let's take a look at our ranking for the 5 cheapest places to buy land in the UK.
- Sunderland. ...
- Copeland. ...
- Port Talbot. ...
- Elgin. ...
- Merthyr Tydfil.
Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way to determine the land's value is to sell it on the marketplace. Nevertheless, you can still estimate its value by hiring an experienced appraiser. Alternately, you can try to estimate the value by looking at comparable properties or by asking a real estate agent.
What can I put on land without planning permission? ›- Interior renovations. ...
- Single-storey extensions. ...
- Build a conservatory without planning permission. ...
- Erect a multi-storey extensions. ...
- Repair, replace or add windows. ...
- Loft conversion. ...
- Replace roof. ...
- Install rooflights.
How Many Houses Can Fit on an Acre? To figure out how many houses can fit on one acre, we just need to do some basic calculations. The median lot size for new single-family homes is 0.19 acres or 8,276 square feet. That means around five average-sized home lots can fit on one acre.
How big of a house can you build on 1 acre? ›You could technically fit almost 44 single-family homes on an acre (assuming each house is 1000 sq ft per floor and there is no space between them). However, in practice, you get an average of between 3-4 single-family homes built per acre in most subdivisions.
How many plots makes one acre? ›An Acre is a propduct of any rectangular plot of land giving a total of 4,046sqm OR 43,560sq ft. An Acre consist of 6 plots each measuring 6 x 120ft.
Can I live on my own land UK? ›So the question is, is it possible to live off the grid in the UK? The short answer is yes. You can live off the grid in the UK and start experiencing a free and independent life. More than that, living off the grid also means you save a lot of money in the long run.
Can I claim an abandoned house UK? ›
The answer is yes, you can. However, purchasing an unoccupied and abandoned property may not be as straight forward as purchasing an occupied residential or commercial property.
Can you build a house for 100k UK? ›how much does it cost to build a house in 2019? With some clever design and project management, it is possible to build an inexpensive house for under £100k. Homebuilding and Renovating magazine have compiled a pinterest board with some great examples of what can be achieved when planning a budget self build home.