The units, in square feet
| Unit | Square feet | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Square yard (gaj) | 9 | North India, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Telangana |
| Square metre | 10.764 | Sale deeds and government records everywhere |
| Marla | 272.25 | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu |
| Cent | 435.6 | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka |
| Guntha | 1,089 | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana |
| Ground | 2,400 | Tamil Nadu (Chennai) |
| Kanal (20 marla) | 5,445 | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Acre | 43,560 | Farm land across India |
| Hectare | 1,07,639 | Revenue records, farm land |
Marla and kanal follow the standard used in Punjab and Haryana revenue records today; a few districts still quote an older, smaller marla of 225 square feet.
Bigha, katha and biswa change from state to state
These three were measured with local rods and chains long before metric records, so one bigha in Lucknow is almost twice one bigha in Kolkata. The converter uses the most common value for each state, and tells you which one it used. Inside a state the size can still change by district — the number in the sale deed or the khatauni is the one that counts.
A worked example
A broker offers “5 cents for ₹25 lakh” near Kochi. Five cents is 5 × 435.6 = 2,178 square feet, so the rate is 25,00,000 ÷ 2,178 = about ₹1,148 per square foot, or ₹5 lakh per cent. A second plot is quoted at “2 guntha for ₹24 lakh”: that is 2,178 square feet as well — the same size — so it is the cheaper one.
Before you pay for a plot
- Convert everything to square feet or square metres before comparing two offers. Sellers quote in whichever unit sounds better.
- Measure the plot. Walk the boundary with a tape or hire a licensed surveyor; the area in the deed and on the ground do not always match.
- Ask whether the price is for plot area or saleable area. In a layout, roads and open spaces are sometimes loaded onto each plot.
- Check the land-use class (residential, agricultural, converted) and the approving authority before paying any advance.
Questions
How many square feet are in one cent?
One cent is 435.6 square feet (one hundredth of an acre). A 5-cent plot is 2,178 square feet.
How big is one guntha?
One guntha is 1,089 square feet (33 × 33 feet). Forty guntha make one acre. The unit is used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Telangana.
Why does bigha have different sizes?
Bigha is a traditional unit that was never standardised. It is about 27,000 square feet in much of Uttar Pradesh, 14,400 in West Bengal and Assam, and 17,424 in Gujarat. Always check the size used in your district’s land records.
What is one ground in Chennai?
One ground is 2,400 square feet. Half a ground (1,200 square feet) is a common house-plot size in Tamil Nadu.
Is gaj the same as square yard?
Yes. One gaj (or gaz) of land is one square yard, which is 9 square feet. A 100-gaj plot is 900 square feet.
Sources
- Department of Land Resources, Government of India — land records
- NIST — international acre and square foot definitions
Last checked 2026-11-12. Free to use; please check important details before you rely on them.