As a potential home buyer, you must have heard terms like hectares, acres, square meters (sq m), square feet (sq ft), gaj, and more before. But did you know that land or plots can also be measured in bigha, marla, guntha, and cent? But with so many variations available, how can out-of-town buyers calculate the land value while buying a plot in a different city? In this article, 99acres details the fundamentals of land measurement and explains unit conversions using the online land area calculator.
How is land measured in India?
Generally land is measured using standard units like square feet (sq ft), acres, or hectares. While small tracts of land or residential plots are usually measured in square feet (sq ft) or square metres (sq m), larger tracts of land, such as industrial or agricultural land, are measured in acres or hectares. However, for individuals who prefer measuring the land using traditional terms, the area measurement calculator can efficiently convert different land measuring terms for homebuyers.
Online land area calculator
Understanding the conversion rate is the first step to calculating the value of your land or plot. Let this online land area calculator help you with the conversion process.
Area Converter ToolStandard land area units in India
Before we move on to the local or regional land measurement units, let's take a look at some of the most popular/common area measurment terms used in the country.
Hectare
The unit hectares are often used to measure forest or agricultural lands. Hectares are also used to survey the land for estate evaluation and town planning.
Acres
Although an acre is popularly used in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, it is also used in India to measure large areas of land such as estates or farmland.
Bigha
Commonly used in the Indian States of Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Bigha has no standard size. Its measurement units vary as per the state. For example, a Bigha in Uttarakhand is 756.222 sq yd, whereas, in Uttar Pradesh, it equals 756 sq yd.
Square Foot
A square foot is used worldwide, from the US to India. This measurement is generally used to measure small or medium-sized areas.
Ground
Commonly used in the southern State of Tamil Nadu, Ground is a popular land measurement unit. The value of one ground equals 203 sq m or 24,000 sq ft.
Square Meter
A square meter, also called a metered square, is a Standard International (SI) unit of area measurement. It is denoted as sq m or m2.
Katha
Katha is popularly used in the eastern states of India. The land unit, like Bigha, also does not have a standard size since it is different for different areas. For example, one katha equals 720 sq ft in West Bengal and 1,361.25 sq ft in Bihar.
Could the article help you understand the topic?
What is the difference between a plot and a ground?
While a plot refers to a piece of land, irrespective of its size, a ground is a land area measuring 2,400 sq ft. The land documents, wherein the land is divided into layouts, will usually give the measurement in the ground or sq ft.
| List of some common land measurement units in India | |
|---|---|
| Unit of Area | Conversion Unit |
| 1 Square Feet (sq ft) | 144 sq in (1 feet is 12 inches) |
| 1 Square Centimeters (sq cm) | 0.00107639 sq ft |
| 1 Square Inch (sq in) | 0.0069444 sq ft |
| 1 Square Kilometer (sq km) | 247.1 acres |
| 1 Square Meter (sq m) | 11 sq ft |
| 1 Square Mile | 640 acres or 259 hectares |
| 1 Square Yard (sq yd) | 9 sq ft |
| 1 Acre | 4840 sq yd or 100.04 cents (standard unit to measure land) |
| 1 Hectare | 10000 sq m or 2.47 acres approximately |
| 1 Bigha | 2528 sq m |
| 1 Biswa | 149.9 sq yd |
| 1 Killa | 4,046 sq m |
| 1 Kanal | 5,445 sq ft or 605 sq yd |
| 1 Chatak | 1 sq ft |
| 1 Katha | 151.25 sq yd |
Source: Secondary
It is important to note that land measurement terms may also vary based on the location. For instance, the meausrement of katha in West Bengal may vary from that in Bihar. Consulting a local real estate expert or the concerned authority in that location can also help property buyers determine the accurate area value.
Land measurement units used in different parts of India
From bigha in the North to guntha in the South, discover the diverse land measurement units used across India-
| Land measurement units used in North India | ||
|---|---|---|
| Units | States used in | Conversion |
| 1 Bigha | Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar | 3025 sq yd, 1 Pucca-Bigha=165 ft*165 ft |
| 1 Biswa | Some parts of HP, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab | 150 sq yd |
| 1 Biswa (Kaccha) (1/20 of Bigha Kaccha) | Lower parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP | 302.5 sq yd |
| 1 Biswansi | UP, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand | 1/20 Biswa. 1 Biswa has 20 Biswansis |
| 1 Killa | Parts of Haryana and Punjab | 4840 sq yd (An Acre is also known as Killa) |
| 1 Ghumaon | Some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab | 4840 sq yd |
| 1 Kanal | Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir | 5445 sq ft and 8 Kanals make 1 Acre |
Source: Secondary
| Land measurement units used in South India | ||
|---|---|---|
| Units | States used in | Conversion |
| 1 Ankanam | Parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka | 72 sqft, 1Acre=605 Ankanams |
| 1 Cent | Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka | 435.6 sq ft |
| 1 Ground | Parts of Tamil Nadu | 2400 sq ft |
| 1 Guntha | Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka | 1089 sq ft |
| 1 Kuncham | Andhra Pradesh | 484 sq yd, 1 Kuncham=10 cents |
Source: Secondary
In addition to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the people of Maharashtra also use the term ‘Guntha’ to calculate land size.
| Land measurement units used in East India | ||
| Units | States used in | Conversion |
| 1 Chatak | West Bengal | 1 sq ft |
| 1 Decimal | West Bengal | 48.39 sq yd, 1 Acre=100 decimals |
| 1 Dhur | Bihar and Jharkhand | 3.6 sq ft |
| 1 Kattha | Assam | 2880 sq ft, 1 Bigha (Assam) has 5 Katthas |
| 1 Kattha | Bengal | 720 sq ft, 1 Bigha (Bengal) has 20 Katthas |
| 1 Kattha | Bihar | 1361.25 sq ft, 1 Bigha (Bihar) has 20 Katthas |
| 1 Lecha | Assam | 144 sq ft, 20 Lechas is 1 Kattha |
Source: Secondary
| Land measurement units used in West India | ||
| Units | States used in | Conversion |
| 1 Bigha | Bihar and parts of Rajasthan | Pucca 3025 sq yd |
| 1 Bigha | Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan | 1936 sq yd |
| 1 Biswa | Upper parts of Rajasthan | Pucca 151.25 sq yd |
| 1 Biswa | Lower parts of Rajasthan | 96.8 sq yd |
| 1 Biswansi | Rajasthan | 1/20 Biswa, 1 Biswa has 20 Biswansis |
Source: Secondary
| Land measurement units used in Central India | ||
|---|---|---|
| Units | States used in | Conversion |
| 1 Bigha | Parts of Madhya Pradesh | 1333.33 sq yd |
| 1 Kattha | Madhya Pradesh | 600 sq ft, 1 Bigha (MP) has 20 Kathas |
Source: Secondary
Please note, the sizes mentioned here are just estimates. Homebuyers can further consult local governing authorities for more in-depth information.
How to use the online land area calculator?
The area conversion tool for land measurement helps homebuyers calculate your property's measurements, based on the State of your choice. The tool is easy to use and provides real-time results without having to login or share personal details. Here is how you can use the area converter tool for land measurements:
Step 1: Go to the 99acres area conversion tool
Step 2: Select the State in which the property is located
Step 3: Select the unit from which you wish to change. For example, if you wish to convert 1490 sq ft into sq m, key in the numbers in the 'From' text box and select sq ft from the drop-down list of select units in front. Then, select the unit in the 'To' drop-down menu, and you will get the converted land measurements.
Benefits of using the land measurement units calculator
Given India's vast regional diversity, calculating different types of land measurement units might be confusing. In cases where a unified land measurement unit is not in use, a land area calculator comes in handy, offering the a quick and simple platform to convert popular land units into lesser-known metrics.
Land measurement and administration officers in India
Administration and land measurement is a complicated task, typically managed by the land records administration of different states. Some important officers working on the task are as follows-
Patwari
Patwari is considered one of the most important land officers and is primarily responsible for managing land records in the area (mainly villages or towns). Duties of a patwari include maintenance of village land records, measurements of fallow and agricultural land, dispute resolving, keeping the land records updated and maintenance of crop records.
Revenue Inspector
A revenue inspector is the next in the hierarchy and their primary responsibilities include ensuring accuracy of land measurements, certifying mutation, surveying damages caused by natural calamities, preparing boundary marks inspection reports, etc.
Naib Tehsildar
Next in line to the revenue officer is the Naib Tehsildar. This office oversees the work of revenue inspectors under them. They are in charge of two to three revenue circles in a State. They also manage the inspection and supervision of crop yield and its regional record. A Naib Tehsildar reports to a Tehsildar, who directly or indirectly, oversees the entire maintenance of land records.
To sum up, knowledge about the different land measurement units can help buyers easily avoid confusion and ensure transparency. However, while this article shares a general overview of the measurement terms used locally, the actual list of unit names and their values can be vast and varying.
Contacting a local real estate expert can help address local land measurement queries better. Alternatively, the online land area calculator can provide a quick and easy conversion of the different unit values.
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