How Much Money Can You Earn On 1 Acre Of Land?

Key Points

• One acre of land is relatively small compared to the average farm size of 444 acres.
• The cost of one acre of land varies depending on location and factors like water access, with the average price of farmland in the US being $3,160 per acre.
• Some ways to make money from one acre of land include timber, growing Christmas trees, raising chickens for egg production, and beekeeping for honey production.

There is a long list of creative ways to earn money off 1 acre of land.

One acre is 43,560 square feet. An acre can be measured in any shape, from rectangles to circles or even hexagons.

Those seemingly endless fields of farmland you picture are pretty accurate. The average farm is 444 acres. So remember that one acre of land is a relatively small plot.

What Does 1 Acre Of Land Cost?

Before considering earning money from your investment, let’s discuss what you must shell out to buy a single acre.

How much an acre of land costs varies significantly by location, economic influences, and overall appeal.

According to the USDA, the average cost of farmland in the U.S. is $3,160 per acre, but that number quickly rises once you start looking at land in popular metro areas. That cost is also based on purchasing a 100+ acre plot of land all at once. One single acre could cost significantly more, mainly if it includes water access.

Once you find your land, here are a few ways to make money.

Start Investing Today

1. Timberland

If you want to buy one acre of timberland, you should look for land with productive soil and a good location. Since it takes years to grow, buying land with existing trees on it is best.

One acre of timberland comes with a price tag of around $1,800.

2. Christmas Trees

Those Douglas Fir and Balsam trees purchased by millions of the country’s families can rake in a profit – but it will be a longer-term commitment.

The average holiday tree takes 6 to 8 years to mature. You can raise 1,200 to 1,500 trees per acre and sell them for around $150.

It would be best to consistently plant new trees to replace the ones sold at Christmas. This is a reliable way to earn money on one acre in a suitable climate.

3. Raise Chickens

You can raise anywhere from 400 to 500 chickens on one acre of land.

A good egg-laying hen will give you about 5 to 6 weekly eggs. You can sell the eggs for an average of $3.00 per dozen. Remember the costs for building the coop, chicken feed, and other expenses, primarily at the onset.

4. Honey

You can have 1 to 2 colonies on one acre of land.

Purchasing bees, equipment, and protective wear can cost you several hundred to several thousand dollars. Of course, you will need blossoming trees, shrubs, or flowers for the bees to thrive.

The amount of honey a single hive produces depends on the colony's strength and the type of hive box used. With a traditional 10-frame deep box, a strong pack will make 80 to 100 lbs. of honey. A medium box will likely have 40 to 60 lbs. of love since it's smaller than a deep box.

According to National Honey Board, one pound of honey is worth $6 on average.