A smallholding is a farm of small size. In third world countries, smallholdings are usually farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops and subsistence farming. As a country becomes more affluent and farming practices become more efficient, smallholdings may persist as a legacy of historical land ownership practices.

In British English usage, a smallholding is a piece of land and its adjacent living quarters for the smallholder and stabling for farm animals. It is usually smaller than a farm but larger than an allotment, usually under 50 acres (20 ha).

The Ultimate Glossary and Guide A smallholding is a residential property that is situated within its own land, which in size could be described as being more than a garden, but less than a farm. In the UK, the land area of a smallholding is generally regarded (by the rule of thumb) as less than 50 acres.