Land in India is measured using both standard units—such as square feet, square metres, acres and hectares—and regional units such as bigha, guntha, cent, kanal, marla and ground. The exact value of some traditional units varies by state, so land records and local revenue standards should always be checked before a legal property transaction.
Land Measurement Conversion Table
These are the fixed, universally accepted conversions between India’s standard land measurement units. Bookmark this table for quick reference.
| Unit | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 square metre | 10.7639 sq ft |
| 1 square yard | 9 sq ft |
| 1 acre | 43,560 sq ft |
| 1 acre | 4,840 sq yd |
| 1 acre | 4,046.86 sq m |
| 1 hectare | 10,000 sq m |
| 1 hectare | 2.47105 acres |
| 1 cent | 435.6 sq ft |
| 1 guntha | 1,089 sq ft |
| 1 acre | 40 gunthas |
Note: Regional units such as bigha, katha, kanal and marla can vary by state or locality. Do not use a single national conversion for these units in legal documentation — always confirm the local value with revenue records before relying on it.
How Is Land Measured in India?
Land in India is commonly measured in square feet, square yards, square metres, acres and hectares. Regional units such as guntha, cent, bigha, katha, kanal and marla are also used, depending on the state. Standard units have fixed conversions, while some traditional units vary by region.
Standard Land Measurement Units Used in India
These units have fixed mathematical values, unlike many traditional regional units. They are commonly encountered in property documents, planning records and real estate listings across India.
Square Foot
The most common unit in residential real estate, used to quote apartment sizes, carpet area and built-up area in almost every Indian city.
Square Metre
The standard metric unit used in government records, urban planning documents and legal filings.
Square Yard (Gaj)
Common in plotted-property markets, particularly in North and West India, where independent house plots are typically quoted in square yards.
Acre
Used for larger plots and agricultural land. One acre equals 43,560 sq ft or 4,840 sq yd.
Hectare
The standard metric unit for large land parcels, used in agricultural records and government land data. One hectare equals 10,000 sq m, or approximately 2.47105 acres.
Traditional and Regional Land Measurement Units
Unlike the standard units above, these traditional units are not uniform across India. The same unit name can represent a different area depending on the state, and sometimes the district. Treat the descriptions below as a starting point, not a fixed conversion.
Bigha
Widely used across North, East and Central India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Its value varies significantly by state and is not nationally standardised.
Katha
Common in West Bengal, Bihar and parts of Assam and Nepal-bordering districts, typically used as a subdivision of a bigha.
Guntha
Guntha is commonly used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In these markets, 1 guntha is conventionally taken as 1,089 sq ft, with 40 gunthas making 1 acre. Buyers should still verify the measurement recorded in the relevant local revenue or survey documents.
Cent
Common in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. A cent is a fixed fraction of an acre: 1 acre equals 100 cents, so 1 cent equals 435.6 sq ft.
Ground
Used mainly in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai, where 1 ground is commonly taken as 2,400 sq ft.
Kanal
Kanal is traditionally used in Punjab, Haryana and parts of northern India, often alongside marla. Because local land records and measurement conventions can vary, buyers should verify the applicable conversion in the jurisdiction where the property is located.
Marla
Used alongside kanal in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, typically as its smaller subdivision.
Decimal
Used in Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, functionally equivalent to a cent: 1 decimal equals 1/100th of an acre, or 435.6 sq ft.
Are
A metric unit occasionally seen in official land records: 1 are equals 100 sq m, or 1/100th of a hectare.
Land Measurement Units by State in India
Here is a quick reference for which units you are most likely to encounter when dealing with land in different states. This list reflects commonly used units, not a legal standard, and local practice can vary within a state.
| State/Region | Common Units |
|---|---|
| Telangana | Acre, guntha, sq yd, sq ft |
| Maharashtra | Acre, guntha, sq m |
| Uttar Pradesh | Bigha, biswa, acre |
| Bihar | Bigha, katha, decimal |
| West Bengal | Bigha, katha, decimal |
| Rajasthan | Bigha, biswa |
| Punjab | Kanal, marla, acre |
| Haryana | Kanal, marla, acre |
| Tamil Nadu | Cent, ground, acre |
| Kerala | Cent, acre |
| Andhra Pradesh | Cent, acre, sq yd |
| Gujarat | Bigha/vigha, guntha, sq m |
Important: Exact conversions are not listed beside every traditional unit above because they are not verified against every state or district revenue source. A bigha in Uttar Pradesh is not the same size as a bigha in Bihar or Rajasthan — always confirm the local value before using it in a transaction.
Land Measurement Units Used in Hyderabad and Telangana
Since Auro Realty operates primarily in Hyderabad, here is how land measurement typically works across different property types in Telangana:
- Apartments: Quoted in square feet (carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area).
- Independent plots: Quoted in square yards, especially within HMDA-approved layouts.
- Large parcels and agricultural land: Quoted in acres and gunthas, particularly on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
- Government and planning documents: Metric units such as square metres and hectares may appear in planning, survey and regulatory documentation.
In Telangana, guntha is commonly used for larger land parcels, with 40 gunthas conventionally corresponding to 1 acre.
Common Land Conversion Examples
How many square feet are in 1 acre?
1 acre = 43,560 sq ft.
How many square yards are in 1 acre?
1 acre = 4,840 sq yd.
How many gunthas are in 1 acre?
1 acre = 40 gunthas.
How many square feet are in 1 guntha?
1 guntha = 1,089 sq ft.
How many cents are in 1 acre?
1 acre = 100 cents.
How many square metres are in 1 acre?
1 acre ≈ 4,046.86 sq m.
How Is Land Area Calculated?
For a rectangular plot, area is calculated as:
Area = Length × Width
For example, a plot measuring 40 ft by 60 ft works out to:
40 ft × 60 ft = 2,400 sq ft
To convert that to square yards: 2,400 ÷ 9 = 266.67 sq yd.
How to Measure an Irregular Plot
Simple length × width math only works for rectangular or near-rectangular plots. Irregular plots — with angled boundaries, curves or multiple sides — need to be broken into smaller regular shapes or measured using a professional survey. For any land purchase, rely on a licensed surveyor’s measurement rather than an estimate, especially when the plot shape is not a simple rectangle.
Which Land Measurement Should You Trust When Buying Property?
Online conversion tables are useful for comparison, but the legally relevant land area is the measurement recorded in title documents, survey records, approved layouts and applicable government or revenue records. For traditional units whose value varies by location, buyers should verify the local conversion before signing or registering a property transaction.
Before finalising a purchase, it’s worth working through a proper due-diligence checklist covering title, zoning, approvals and physical measurement — see our guide to what to check before buying land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common land measurement units in India?
Square feet, square metres, square yards, acres and hectares are widely used, while units such as bigha, guntha, cent, kanal, marla and katha vary by region.
How many square feet are in one acre?
43,560 sq ft.
How many square yards are in one acre?
4,840 sq yd.
How many gunthas are in one acre?
40 gunthas.
How many square feet are in one guntha?
1,089 sq ft.
How many cents make one acre?
100 cents.
Is one bigha the same across India?
No. Bigha varies significantly by state and sometimes by locality.
Which land measurement is legally valid when buying property?
The area recorded in applicable title, survey, revenue and approved property documents should be relied upon; local professional or legal verification is advisable where measurements differ.
Related Guides
- Carpet Area vs Built-Up vs Super Built-Up Area: A Buyer’s Guide — the natural next step once you’ve moved from land measurement to apartment measurement.
- FSI (Floor Space Index) Explained — how land area determines how much you can actually build.
- Things to Check Before Buying Land in Hyderabad — a due-diligence checklist beyond measurement alone.
- Best Locations to Buy Plots in Hyderabad
- 15 Real Estate Terms Every Homebuyer Must Know
Last reviewed and updated: August 2026
