Area & Measurement
Indian Land Measurement Units: Bigha, Guntha, Cent, Ground
India measures land in a dozen different units, and one of them means different things in different districts of the same state. That is not a curiosity. It is a way to lose money.
The short answer
India measures land in guntha, cent, ground, kanal, marla, katha, ankanam, bigha — and acres and square feet.
And the bigha is the dangerous one: it varies by STATE, and in some places by DISTRICT. A bigha in Uttar Pradesh is not a bigha in West Bengal, which is not a bigha in Rajasthan.
Never accept a price "per bigha" without asking which bigha.
The standard units — these mean the same everywhere
| Unit | Equals | Also |
|---|---|---|
| 1 acre | 43,560 sq ft | 4,047 sq metres · 4,840 sq yards |
| 1 hectare | 1,07,639 sq ft | 2.471 acres · 10,000 sq metres |
| 1 sq metre | 10.764 sq ft | |
| 1 sq yard (gaj) | 9 sq ft | 0.836 sq metres |
Acre and hectare are the same everywhere in India. If you can get a figure in acres or square feet, take it — and convert everything else into one of those before you compare anything.
The regional units
| Unit | Where | Roughly equals |
|---|---|---|
| Guntha | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana | 1,089 sq ft · 40 guntha = 1 acre |
| Cent | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 435.6 sq ft · 100 cent = 1 acre |
| Ground | Tamil Nadu (Chennai especially) | 2,400 sq ft |
| Ankanam | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka | 72 sq ft (varies locally) |
| Kanal | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J&K | 5,445 sq ft · 8 kanal = 1 acre |
| Marla | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal | 272.25 sq ft · 20 marla = 1 kanal |
| Katha / Cottah | West Bengal, Bihar, Assam | 720 sq ft in Bengal — but it varies |
| Chatak | West Bengal | 45 sq ft · 16 chatak = 1 katha |
| Lecha | Assam | 144 sq ft |
| Biswa | UP, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal | Varies by state. 20 biswa = 1 bigha. |
| Bigha | Across North & East India | NO FIXED VALUE. See below. This is the one that costs people money. |
Convert everything to SQUARE FEET or ACRES before you compare, negotiate or sign. Two plots quoted in different units are not comparable, and the person quoting them knows that.
The bigha problem
There is no standard bigha in India. None. It is a traditional unit, and the tradition differed from place to place.
Broadly, and you must verify locally:
• Uttar Pradesh — around 27,000 sq ft (a pucca bigha), but a kachcha bigha is much smaller
• West Bengal — around 14,400 sq ft (20 katha)
• Rajasthan — a pucca bigha and a kachcha bigha are different sizes
• Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam — each different again
• And in some states it varies between districts
So a price 'per bigha' is not a price. It is an invitation to be confused.
“How many SQUARE FEET is that, and is it stated in the revenue record?”
Not 'how many bigha'. Square feet. Or acres.
And then check it against the land record — the 7/12, the RTC, the khasra, the jamabandi — which will state the extent in a standard unit.
The record is the fact. The bigha is a story, and stories vary by district.
The rules
- Convert everything to square feet — or acres — before you compare anything.
- Never accept a price per bigha without establishing the bigha's size in that district, in writing.
- Check the extent in the revenue record. The 7/12, RTC, khasra or jamabandi states the area. That is the authoritative figure, not what the seller says.
- Get the plot surveyed if you are buying land. A licensed surveyor costs very little against the price of the land, and boundary disputes are the commonest form of Indian property litigation.
- Check the shajra or the survey sketch — where is the plot, actually?
- Beware the "approximately". "Approximately one acre" can be 38,000 sq ft. Get the number.
1 acre = 43,560 sq ft.
Everything else follows. 40 guntha to the acre. 100 cent to the acre. 8 kanal to the acre.
If somebody quotes you a unit you don't recognise, ask how many of them make an acre. If they cannot tell you, they should not be selling you land.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is one bigha?
There is no standard answer, and that is the point. A bigha varies by state and sometimes by district — roughly 27,000 sq ft in Uttar Pradesh, about 14,400 in West Bengal, and different again in Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam. Some states even distinguish a pucca bigha from a kachcha bigha. Never accept a price per bigha without establishing the size in that district, in writing.
How many guntha in an acre?
40. One guntha is 1,089 sq ft, and 40 guntha make an acre (43,560 sq ft). Used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
How many cents in an acre?
100. One cent is 435.6 sq ft. Used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Karnataka.
What is a ground in Chennai?
2,400 square feet. It is the standard unit for residential plots in Chennai and much of Tamil Nadu.
How do I verify the size of a plot I'm buying?
Check the revenue record — the 7/12, RTC, khasra or jamabandi — which states the extent in a standard unit. That is the authoritative figure, not what the seller says. Then get the plot surveyed by a licensed surveyor: it costs very little against the price of the land, and boundary disputes are the commonest form of Indian property litigation.