EUDR point vs polygon: the 4-hectare rule
One rule decides whether an EUDR plot can be a single coordinate or must be a full boundary: its area.
≤ 4 hectares → Point allowed
For a plot of 4 hectares or less you may provide a single WGS-84 point (longitude, latitude with ≥ 6 decimals). A boundary polygon is still acceptable and often clearer.
> 4 hectares → Polygon required
A plot larger than 4 hectares must be described by a Polygon tracing its boundary. A single point for a large plot is a rejection waiting to happen.
How area is measured
Area is the real ground area of the production plot, in hectares (1 ha = 10,000 m²). When you provide a polygon, our validator computes the area directly from the geometry. When you provide a point, there is no geometry to measure, so include an Area property (in hectares) on the feature so the rule can be verified.
Common mistakes
- A large estate submitted as one point (should be a polygon).
- A polygon whose ring is not closed or crosses itself.
- Assuming “a few points around the edge” count as a boundary — you need an actual closed ring.
Not sure if your plot is over the threshold? Load it into the validator → It computes each polygon’s area and flags points that exceed 4 ha.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the threshold exactly 4 hectares?
- Yes — plots over 4 hectares require a polygon; 4 hectares or under may be a point. This threshold is stored as data in the tool and was last reviewed 2026-07-05.
- What if I only have a point for a large plot?
- You will need to trace the boundary. Use the map builder to draw the polygon, or convert an existing boundary file (KML, shapefile) to GeoJSON.
- Does a polygon work for small plots too?
- Yes. A polygon is always acceptable. The point option simply exists to make small plots easier to report.