Short answer
How many square feet are in a cent, guntha, gaj, marla, kanal and acre? 1 cent is 435.6 sq ft, 1 guntha is 1,089 sq ft, 1 gaj (square yard) is 9 sq ft, 1 marla is 272.25 sq ft, 1 kanal is 5,445 sq ft and 1 acre is 43,560 sq ft. A bigha is different in different states, so take its size from your revenue record.
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Need quantities? Plot area converter
Land in India is sold and recorded in many different units. A plot in Kerala is quoted in cents, in Maharashtra in gunthas, in Delhi in gaj, in Punjab in marla and kanal. Plans and approvals use square feet or square metres. This page gives the conversion for each unit, shows worked plot examples and explains why one popular unit, the bigha, cannot be given a single number.
How many square feet are in each unit?
| Unit | Square feet | Square metres | Square yards (gaj) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cent | 435.6 | 40.47 | 48.4 |
| Guntha | 1,089 | 101.17 | 121 |
| Square yards | 9 | 0.84 | 1 |
| Marla | 272.25 | 25.29 | 30.25 |
| Kanal | 5,445 | 505.86 | 605 |
| Ground | 2,400 | 222.97 | 266.67 |
| Acre | 43,560 | 4,046.86 | 4,840 |
| Hectare | 1,07,639.1 | 10,000 | 11,959.9 |
The factors are the ones used by the plot area converter, and every unit is converted through square feet.
How are the units related to each other?
The acre is the common reference.
- 1 acre = 100 cent = 40 guntha = 4,840 gaj = 160 marla = 8 kanal.
- 1 guntha = 2.5 cent.
- 1 hectare = 2.4711 acres.
Where is each unit used?
| Unit | Mostly used in |
|---|---|
| Cent | Kerala and Tamil Nadu mainly, and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh |
| Guntha | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh |
| Gaj (square yard) | Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other northern states (Gujarat uses the same square yard under the name var) |
| Marla and kanal | Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Himachal Pradesh |
| Ground | Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu |
| Acre and hectare | All over India, and in official records |
Some places use more than one unit, and a few units are used with other values than the ones above. Always read the unit written on your sale deed or revenue record.
Worked examples
- A 30 ft × 40 ft plot is 1,200 sq ft. That is 133.3 gaj, 111.48 sq m, 2.75 cent or 1.102 guntha.
- A 2.5 cent plot is 1,089 sq ft, which is exactly 1 guntha, or 121 gaj.
- A 5 cent plot is 2,178 sq ft, or 242 gaj.
- A 1 kanal plot is 5,445 sq ft, which is 605 gaj, or 505.9 sq m.
Why is bigha not in the table?
The size of a bigha is different in different states, and sometimes in different districts, and some places use more than one kind of bigha. Biswa and kattha are the same. A single number here would be wrong for most readers, so this page and the converter give none. Take the size of your bigha, biswa or kattha from your revenue record or your local land office, then convert that figure into square feet yourself.
What is the plot area on my plan or my deed?
The area written on a sale deed, the area on the approved plan and the area measured on the ground can differ, because of boundary changes, road widening or measuring from different points. When you apply for approval or buy a plot, use the area in the document your authority asks for, and ask a surveyor if the figures do not match. Plot size also decides which building bye-laws apply, which is covered by your local authority.
How do I use the converter?
Open the plot area converter, type the area, choose the unit you have and it shows the same area in every other unit.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in 1 cent?
435.6 square feet.
How many square feet are in 1 guntha?
1,089 square feet, which is 2.5 cent.
How many cent are in 1 acre?
100 cent. An acre is also 40 guntha.
How many square feet are in 1 gaj?
9 square feet. A gaj here means a square yard.
How many square feet are in 1 marla and 1 kanal?
272.25 square feet for a marla and 5,445 square feet for a kanal, at the Punjab and Haryana standard, where 1 kanal is 20 marla. Some places use other values, so check your record.
How many square feet are in 1 bigha?
It depends on the state, and the figure is not the same everywhere. Check your revenue record.
Related guides
- Best time to build a house in Delhi: monsoon or winter?
- Concrete for an isolated footing: a worked quantity example
This guide is general information. Read the disclaimer. For a sale, a registration or an approval, use the area and the unit given in the official record.
Work out your quantities
- Plot area converter: Convert land area between square feet, square yards (gaj), square metres, cent, guntha, ground, marla, kanal, acre and hectare.
Sources
- The standard definition of the acre as 4,840 square yards (43,560 sq ft); cent, guntha, marla and kanal as fractions or multiples used in revenue records
- The From Foundation plot area converter, whose constants this page uses
General information only. It is not a structural design or professional advice. Ask a licensed structural engineer or architect to check your plans and site.