India Area & Land Unit Converter
Convert Bigha, Gaj, Biswa, Katha, Guntha, Cent, Ground, Killa, Kanal, Marla, Acre, and Square Feet with accurate state-wise revenue definitions.
Indian State Land Unit Explorer
Explore official and customary measurement equivalents across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India. Select a state to view precise square feet, square meters, Gaj, acres, and revenue notes.
Introduction to Indian Land Measurement Systems
India possesses one of the most culturally diverse and historically layered land measurement systems on earth. While modern architectural plans, municipal building sanctions, and real estate listings under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) mandate metric (square meters) and imperial (square feet) units, rural cadastral registries (Khatauni, Khasra, Jamabandi, and Satbara/7/12) continue to record agricultural holdings in traditional regional units.
If you are purchasing farmland, verifying inheritance titles on digital state portals (like UP Bhulekh, Jamabandi Haryana, Mahabhulekh, or BanglarBhumi), or planning a residential colony, understanding how traditional units translate into standard standard square feet is paramount.
Why Does the Same Land Unit Have Different Sizes in India?
The root cause of measurement divergence lies in pre-colonial revenue history. During the Mughal Empire and subsequent British East India Company land settlements, revenue assessment was conducted at the district level using physical measuring chains called Jaribs. A Jarib in the fertile Gangetic plains of the Doab differed in length from a Jarib used in Bengal or Rajasthan.
When independent India created state revenue codes, each state legislature enacted its own Land Revenue Act codifying the historical measurements already recorded in village Aks Shajra (cadastral village maps). Consequently:
- In Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, a standard Pucca Bigha equals 27,225 square feet (3,025 Gaj or 5/8 acre).
- In Haryana and Punjab, where the revenue system was standardized around the British Gunter's chain and Acre, 1 Bigha was codified as 21,780 square feet (exactly 0.5 acre or 4 Kanals).
- In West Bengal, the Bengal Tenancy Act codified 1 Bigha as 14,400 square feet (1,600 Gaj or 20 Katha).
- In Himachal Pradesh, steep hilly terrain led to smaller terraces, establishing 1 Bigha as 8,712 square feet (0.2 acre).
Never assume a "Bigha" quoted in a verbal negotiation has a fixed nationwide value. An acre of land contains 1.6 Bighas in Uttar Pradesh, 2.0 Bighas in Haryana, and 3.025 Bighas in West Bengal. Always demand the title deed in square meters, square feet, or acres before advancing earnest money.
Common Land Units Used Across India
Depending on the geographical zone, land registries rely on distinct unit families:
- Gaj (Square Yard): Commonly used in property discussions in parts of North India, especially for plot-area conversations; local documents may use different terminology. 1 Gaj is exactly 1 square yard = 9 square feet (0.836127 sq m). A 200 Gaj plot equals 1,800 sq ft.
- Bigha, Biswa, and Biswansi: The primary agrarian system in UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and MP. 1 Bigha is subdivided into 20 Biswa, and 1 Biswa into 20 Biswansi.
- Katha, Dhur, and Dhurki: Predominant in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and eastern UP. 1 Bigha = 20 Katha. In Bihar, 1 Katha = 1,361 sq ft (20 Dhur), whereas in West Bengal, 1 Katha = 720 sq ft.
- Guntha (Gunta): The sovereign rural land unit in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Telangana. 1 Guntha = 1,089 sq ft (1/40th acre). 40 Gunthas make exactly 1 Acre.
- Cent (Decimal / Shatak): Standard in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. 1 Cent = 435.6 sq ft (1/100th acre). 100 Cents equal 1 Acre.
- Ground: The traditional urban real estate measurement in Chennai and suburban Tamil Nadu. 1 Ground equals exactly 2,400 square feet (approx 222.97 sq m).
- Ankanam: Used in parts of Andhra Pradesh (especially Nellore, Tirupati, and Rayalaseema). 1 Ankanam = 72 square feet (8 Gaj).
- Killa, Kanal, and Marla: The official revenue nomenclature in Punjab and Haryana. 1 Killa = 1 Acre = 8 Kanals = 160 Marlas. 1 Kanal = 5,445 sq ft (605 Gaj). 1 Marla = 272.25 sq ft (30.25 Gaj).
State-by-State Indian Land Measurement Table
Common reference equivalents across selected Indian regions.
| State | Primary Local Unit | Subdivision | Equivalent in Sq Feet | Equivalent in Gaj | Acres per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 1 Pucca Bigha | 20 Biswa | 27,225 sq ft | 3,025 Gaj | 0.625 ac (5/8 ac) |
| Haryana & Punjab | 1 Traditional Bigha | 4 Kanals (20 Biswa) | 21,780 sq ft | 2,420 Gaj | 0.500 ac (1/2 ac) |
| Punjab & Haryana | 1 Killa (Standard) | 8 Kanals (160 Marla) | 43,560 sq ft | 4,840 Gaj | 1.000 ac |
| Rajasthan | 1 Pucca Bigha | 20 Biswa | 27,225 sq ft | 3,025 Gaj | 0.625 ac |
| Bihar | 1 Bigha | 20 Katha (400 Dhur) | 27,220 sq ft | 3,024.4 Gaj | 0.6249 ac |
| West Bengal | 1 Bigha | 20 Katha (320 Chhatak) | 14,400 sq ft | 1,600 Gaj | 0.3306 ac (33.06 decimals) |
| Gujarat | 1 Vigha / Bigha | 16 Gunthas | 17,424 sq ft | 1,936 Gaj | 0.400 ac |
| Maharashtra & Karnataka | 1 Guntha | 1/40 Acre | 1,089 sq ft | 121 Gaj | 0.025 ac |
| Tamil Nadu & Kerala | 1 Cent | 1/100 Acre | 435.60 sq ft | 48.4 Gaj | 0.010 ac |
| Tamil Nadu (Urban) | 1 Ground | 2,400 sq ft | 2,400 sq ft | 266.67 Gaj | 0.0551 ac |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 Bigha | 4 Kanals (20 Biswa) | 8,712 sq ft | 968 Gaj | 0.200 ac |
| Assam | 1 Bigha | 5 Katha (100 Lessa) | 14,400 sq ft | 1,600 Gaj | 0.3306 ac |
Original Worked Examples for Indian Real Estate
Practical calculation breakdowns for actual land scenarios across Indian states.
Buying a 250 Gaj Plot in Greater Noida
A family is purchasing a residential plot advertised as 250 Gaj and needs the area in square feet for the architectural floor plan.
Calculation: 250 × 9 = 2,250 sq ft
Result: 250 Gaj equals exactly 2,250 square feet (209.03 square meters).
Converting 4.5 Pucca Bigha to Acres in Meerut
A farmer inherits 4.5 Pucca Bighas of sugarcane farmland in Uttar Pradesh and wants to verify the acreage for bank loan documentation.
Acres = 122,512.5 ÷ 43,560 = 2.8125 Acres
Result: 4.5 Pucca Bighas equals 2.8125 Acres (or 13,612.5 Gaj).
Converting 18 Gunthas to Square Feet in Pune
A non-agricultural (NA) plot in Haveli taluka is listed on the 7/12 extract as 18 Gunthas.
Calculation: 18 × 1,089 = 19,602 sq ft
Result: 18 Gunthas equals 19,602 square feet (0.45 Acre or 2,178 Gaj).
Subdividing 1 Killa into Kanals & Marlas
An owner in Ludhiana wants to allocate 3 Kanals and 10 Marlas of an agricultural Killa to his sibling.
3 Kanals = 3 × 5,445 = 16,335 sq ft
10 Marlas = 10 × 272.25 = 2,722.5 sq ft
Total Allocated = 19,057.5 sq ft (0.4375 Acre)
Result: 3 Kanals 10 Marlas equals 19,057.5 sq ft.
Converting 3.5 Grounds to Square Feet
A real estate promoter is acquiring 3.5 Grounds in Anna Nagar, Chennai for a multistory apartment complex.
Calculation: 3.5 × 2,400 = 8,400 sq ft
Result: 3.5 Grounds equals 8,400 square feet (780.38 square meters).
Converting 12 Cents to Square Feet in Kochi
A buyer in Kerala is evaluating a residential plot registered as 12 Cents.
Calculation: 12 × 435.6 = 5,227.2 sq ft
Result: 12 Cents equals 5,227.2 square feet (580.8 Gaj).
Practical Land Measurement Tips for Indian Property Buyers
- Verify the Khasra and Khatauni Online: Before signing an agreement to sell, always look up the land parcel on the official state revenue portal (e.g., UP Bhulekh, Jamabandi Haryana, Banglarbhumi, Mahabhulekh). Verify whether the area is logged in Hectares, Pucca Bigha, or Acres.
- Watch Out for Local Decimal Point Notations: Many northern state land records record area in hectares down to four decimal places (e.g., 0.2529 Hectare). 0.2529 Hectare equals exactly 2,529.28 square meters, which is 1 Pucca Bigha (27,225 sq ft). Confusing decimal places can lead to massive financial miscalculations.
- Conduct Physical DGPS Survey: Ancient village maps were hand-drawn on cloth (Shajra). Physical ground boundaries often drift due to canal realignments or encroaching field bunds (Mend). Hire an authorized surveyor using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) or Total Station before registration.
- Confirm RERA Carpet Area: When buying builder flats or commercial floors, ignore "super area" formulas. Only the registered Carpet Area (measured from inner wall to inner wall in square meters and square feet) carries statutory legal protection.