Table of Contents
Introduction
India is filled with diversity. This diversity also shows in how agricultural, commercial or non-agricultural lands in India are measured in terms of length and area. Primarily, the land measurement units can be categorized on the basis of five geographical regions in India i.e., East India, North India, west India, central India and South India. Central India land measurement units are not only influenced by north India but also a little bit of East India.
*Must Read : Types of soils
Sometimes, the name of the unit will be the same in different parts of India, but the measurement will be different when converted to yards, acres, feet or hectares. The measuring unit magnitude varies from state to state. Sounds confusing right? You need not worry now as this article will give you an in-depth analysis of Indian land measurement units used together with, how to convert the local measurement unit to global measurement standards to give you the precise land parameters like length and area.
Standard unit of measuring land in India
what is the standard unit of measuring land ?
Typically, In most of the Indian states, the standard unit of measuring agricultural land is acres. This measuring unit is followed by Hactares, Bigha, Guntha and square meters.
After standardization of Land area measurement units, The standard unit of measuring land is shown in the following table which shows the exact measurement scale to be used all over India for calculation of land Area.
| UNIT | MEASUREMENT DETAILS |
|---|---|
| 1 Unwasi | 24.5025 Sq Inch |
| 1 Kachwansi | 20 Unwansi |
| 1 Biswansi | 20 Kachwansi 1 Sq. Gattha 7.5625 Sq. Yard 9801 Sq. Inch |
| 1 Bissa | 20 Biswansi 20 Sq. Gattha |
| 1 Kaccha Bigha | 6 2/3 Bissa 008 Sq. Yard and 3 Sq Feet 843 Sq. Meters |
| 1 Pucca Bigha | 1 Sq. Jareeb 3 Kaccha Bigha 20 Bissa 3025 Sq. Yard 2529 Sq. Meters 27225 Sq. Feet |
| 1 Acre | 4840 Sq. Yard 4046.8 Sq. meters 43560 Sq. Feet 0.4047 Hectare |
| 1 Hectare | 2.4711 Acre 10000 Sq meters |
Common units used in India for measurement of agricultural lands
| NORTH INDIA | WEST INDIA | SOUTH INDIA | EAST INDIA | CENTRAL INDIA | GLOBAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pucca Bighat | Pucca Bigha | Cent | Chatak | Bigha/Beegha | Squar Foot (sq ft) |
| Bigha | Bigha | Guntha | Lecha | Kattha | Squar Yard (sq yd) |
| Kachha Bigha | Biswa | Kuncham | Dhur | Acre | |
| Biswa | Biswani | Ground | Kattha | Hectare | |
| Biswani | Ankanam | ||||
| Killa | |||||
| Ghumao | |||||
| Kanal | |||||
| Sarsahi | |||||
| Unwansi | |||||
| Kachwansi | |||||
| Muthi | |||||
| Naali | |||||
| Bissa |
Land measurement units like acres, square meter, square feet, hectares and square yard (also known as “Gaj” in local language) the standard unit of measuring land of India. However, out of all these standard unit of measuring land, the locals are still preferring to use the local and traditional measurement units for ease of business and force of habit. The land/plot measurement units like Dhur, Chatak , Kattha and Lecha are mostly used in East India. Whereas, south India uses agricultural land measurement units like Ankanam, Guntha, Kuncham, Ground or Cent. Central India uses Bigha and Kattha. Whereas, a plethora of land measuring units can be heard in North and west India like Bigha, Gaj, Biswa, Pucca Bigha, Kaccha Bigha, Killa, Kanal, Ghumao, Sarsai, Marla, Biswani, Unwansi, and Kachwansi.
List of commonly used Global land measurement units
| UNIT OF AREA | CONVEDRSION |
|---|---|
| 1 Square Centimeters | 0.00107639 Square Feet |
| 1 Square Inch | 0.0069444 Square Feet |
| 1 Square Feet (sq ft) | 144 Square Inch |
| 1 Square Meter (sq ft) | 10.76391042 Square Feet |
| 1 Square Yard (sq ft) | 9 Square Feet |
| 1 Acre | 4840 Square Yard or 100.04 cents (standard unit to land measurement) |
| 1 Hectare | 10000 Square Meter or 2.49 acres approximately |
| 1 Square Kilometer (sq km) | 247.1 acres |
| 1 Square Mile | 640 acres or 259 hectares |
* 1 Feet is equal to 12 Inches* 1 Acre is equal to 40 Guntha commonly
* 1 Guntha is equal to 1089 Square Feet
* Measuring Unit abbreviation Square Feet (sq ft), Square Yard (sq yd), Square Meter (sq m), Square Kilometer (sq km)
Insight into traditional land measurement units in India
Let’s dive into the details of the traditional land measurement units based on locality and state of India, and see how the measurement units can be converted into the global land measurement units for ease of understanding and business.
Length Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in INDIA
| LOCAL TRADITIONAL UNITS | CONVERSION |
|---|---|
| 1 Haath | 99 inches, 2.75 Yards, 5 ½ Haath, 2.5146 Meters |
| 1 Gattha | 99 inches, 2.75 Yards, 5 ½ Haath, 2.5146 Meters |
| 1 Jareeb | 1980 Inches, 110 Haath, 55 Yards, 20 Gattha, 50.292 Meters |
| 1 Gaz, Gaj, Guzz | 1 Yard, 0.91 Meters, 36 Inches |
Area Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in SOUTH INDIA
| LOCAL UNITS | CONVERSION | USED IN STATES | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ankhanam | 72 sq ft | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka | 1 Acre is equal to 605 Ankanams |
| 1 Cent | 435.6 sq ft | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 1 Acre is equal to 100 cents |
| 1 Kuncham | 484 sq yd | Andhra Pradesh | 1 Kuncham is equal to 10 cents. |
| 1 Guntha | 1089 sq ft | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra | Measured as 33 ft X 33 ft. |
| 1 Ground | 2400 sqft | Tamil Nadu |
*1 Acre = 40 Guntha
Area Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in CENTRAL INDIA
| LOCAL UNITS | CONVERSION | USED IN STATES | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bigha | 1333.33 sq yd | Madhya Pradesh | |
| 1 Kattha | 600 sq ft | Madhya Pradesh | 1 Bigha in Madhya Pradesh has 20 Kathas |
Area Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in EAST INDIA
| LOCAL UNITS | CONVERSION | USED IN STATES | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Chatak | 180 sq ft | West Bengal | 1 Katha in West Bengal is equal to 16 chataks. |
| 1 Decimal | 48.4 sq yd | West Bengal | 1 Acre is equal to 100 Decimals |
| 1 Dhur | 68.0625 sq ft | Bihar, Jharkhand | 1 Kattha in Bihar is equal to 20 Dhurs |
| 1 Dhur | 3.6 sq ft | Tripura | 20 Dhurs in Tripura is equal to 1 Kranta |
| 1 Dhur | 2880 sq ft | Assam | 1 Bigha in Assam is equal to 5 Katthas |
| 1 Kattha | 720 sq ft | West Bengal | 1 Bigha in West Bengal is equal to 20 Kathas |
| 1 Dhur | 1361.25 sq ft | Bihar | 1 Bigha in Bihar is equal to 20 Kathas. |
| 1 Lecha | 144 sq ft | Assam | 20 Lechas is 1 Kattha |
Area Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in NORTH INDIA
| Local Unit | Conversion | Used in States of India | Information |
| 1 Bigha Pucca | 3025 sq yd | Bihar & some parts of UP, Punjab, Haryana | 1 Pucca Bigha = 165 ft X 165 ft. |
| 1 Bigha | 968 sq yd | Bigha size used in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. | |
| 1 Bigha | 900 sq yd | Bigha size used in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. | |
| Bigha | Kachha 1008.33 sq yd | Some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Utter Pradesh. | Kachha Bigha is equal to 1/3 of Pucca Bigha |
| 1 Biswa | Pucca 151.25 sq yd | Utter Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana | 1/20 Bigha (Pucca) |
| 1 Biswa | 48.4 sq yd | Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | 1/20 of Bigha |
| 1 Biswa | 45 sq yd | Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | 1/20 of Bigha |
| 1 Biswa Kaccha | 50.417 sq yd | Lower parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP | 1/20 of Bigha (Kaccha) |
| 1 Biswansi | 1/20 Biswa | Used in UP, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand. | 1 Biswa has 20 Biswansis. Each state has a different value for Biswansi depending on the value of Biswa/ Bigha used. |
| 1 Killa | 4840 sq yd | Used in some parts of Haryana and Punjab | An Acre is also known as Killa |
| 1 Ghumaon | 4840 sq yd | in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. | An Acre is also known as Ghumaon |
| 1 Kanal | 5445 sq ft | Unit used in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir | 8 kanals is 1 acre |
| 1 Sarsahi (Square Karam) | 30.25 sq ft | Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh | Measured as 1 karam X 1 karam (66in X 66in). 1 Marla has 9 Sarsahies |
| 1 Unwansi | 24.5025 Sq.In , 0.17015625 Sq.Ft | UP, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | |
| 1 Kachwansi | 490.05 Sq In ,3.403125 Sq Ft | UP, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | 1 Kachwani is equal to 20 Unwansi |
| 1 Muthi | 135 sq Ft, 45 sq. yd | Uttarakhand | |
| 1 Naali | 2160 sq Ft , 151.25 sq yd | Uttarakhand | 1 Naali is equal to 16 Mutthi |
| 1 Bissa | 1361.25 sq ft | Uttarakhand | 1 Bissa is equal to 20 Biswansi or 20 Sq.Gattha |
Area Measurement Units of Agricultural Land and Non-Agricultural land in WEST INDIA
| Term of Unit | Used Conversion | Used in States | Remarks |
| 1 Bigha Pucca | 3025 sq yd | Bihar & some parts of Rajasthan | 1 Pucca Bigha is equal to 165 ft X 165 ft |
| 1 Bigha | 1936 sq yd | Bigha size used in Gujarat and some parts of Rajasthan | 1 Bigha is equal to 132 ft X 132 ft. |
| 1 Biswa Pucca | 151.25 sq yd | Its mostly used in upper parts of Rajasthan | 1/20 Bigha (Pucca) |
| 1 Biswa | 96.8 sq yd | Rajasthan | 1/20 of Bigha |
| 1 Biswansi | 1/20 Biswa | Rajasthan | 1 Biswa is equal to 20 Biswansis. Each state has a different value for Biswansi depending on the value of Biswa/ Bigha |
Local Standard unit of measuring land in all parts of India
Following is the list of Standard unit of measuring land in different staes of India.
Land measurements in Andhra Pradesh : Guntha, Ankanam, Kuncham
Land measurements in Arunachal Pradesh : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Assam : Kattha, Lecha, Bigha , Dhur
Land measurements in Bihar : Kattha, Dhur, Bigha , Bigha Pucca
Land measurements in Chhattisgarh : Kattha, Bigha
Land measurements in Goa : Guntha
Land measurements in Gujarat : Bigha
Land measurements in Haryana : Gaj, Bigha , Killa, Kanal, Marla, Ghumao, Karam, Kadam, Sarsai, Biswansi, Biswa
Land measurements in Himachal Pradesh : Ghumao, Bigha , Karam, Kadam, Sarsai, Biswansi, Biswa
Land measurements in Jharkhand : Dhur, Bigha
Land measurements in Karnataka : Cent, Guntha, Ankanam
Land measurements in Kerala : Cent
Land measurements in Madhya Pradesh : Kattha, Bigha
Land measurements in Maharashtra : Guntha
Land measurements in Manipur : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Meghalaya : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Mizoram : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Nagaland : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Odisha : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Punjab : Gaj, Bigha , Killa, Kanal, Ghumao, Marla, Sarsai, Biswansi, Biswa
Land measurements in Rajasthan : Pucca Bigha, Biswa Pucca, Biswa, Bigha , Biswansi
Land measurements in Sikkim : Chatak, Lecha, Dhur, Kattha
Land measurements in Tamil Nadu : Ground, Cent
Land measurements in Telangana : Guntha, Ankanam, Kuncham
Land measurements in Tripura : Dhur
Land measurements in Uttar Pradesh : Dhur, Bigha
Land measurements in Uttarakhand : Gaj, Bigha , Unwansi, Kachwansi, Biswa, Biswansi , Muthi, Naali, Bissa
Land measurements in West Bengal : Chatak, Kattha, Bigha
Land measurements in Delhi : Gaj
Chatak
A land measurement unit used in eastern part of India. Not as popular as Kattha unit of measurement. This land measuring unit is also popular in Bangladesh.
1 Chatak = 45 Square feet
States where Chatak is used : West Bangal
Kattha
A land measurement unit also very prominent in eastern part of India. Depending on the location its value can range from 600 to 2800 square feet. This along with Chatak is still a little prevalent in eastern and some parts of northeen India. This varying land meeasurement unit is also used in some parts of Nepal and Bangladesh.
1 Kattha = 719 square Feet ( But it can also range from 600-2800 Square Feet)
States where Kattha is used: Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar
Dhur
Again, like many other land measuring units, Dhur also varies in values depending on state to state.
It is very commonly used in Nepal aswel.
1 Dhur (Tripura) = 3.6 Square Feet
1 Dhur (Bihar) = 68 Square Feet
States where Kattha is used: Bhiar, Tripura, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Lecha
Another land measurement unit used in mostly eastern parts of India is Lecha.
1 Lecha = 144 Square Feet
States where Lecha is used: Assam
Ground
A ground is a land area measurement unit mostly used in Southern parts of India.
1 Ground = 2,400 Square Feet.
States where ground is used: Tamil Nadu.
Cent
Cent is also a land measurement unit which is maily used in southeren parts of India.
1 cent = 435.6 Square Feet
States where cent is used: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala
Guntha
This land measurement unit is predominetly used in southeren and a little bit of western parts of India. Don’t be surprised to see this unit being used, not only in south but also in states like maharshtra which falls in the western part of India.
1 Guntha = 1,089 Square Feet
40 Guntha = 1 Acre
States where Guntha is used: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra.
Ankanam
By definition Ankanam is the space between any two posts or pillars that support the roof. It’s a measuring unit used mainly in southern part of India and is derived from the word “Ankana”
1 Ankanam = 72 Squyare Feet
1 Ankanam (Tirupathi) = 36 Square Feet
States where Ankanam is used: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Kuncham
A Kuncham is a land measurement unit which is prevalent in south India.
1 Kuncham = 4,356 Square Feet
States where Kuncham is used: Andhra Pradesh.
Gaj or Guz or guzz
Probably one of the oldest land measuring unit. It was also coined as the “new yard” or “Mughal yard” of Indian sub-continent. This measuring unit was used to measure textile. It’s a measuring unit used mostly in northern parts of India and its value has change from 24-41 inches or 610-1040 mm over a period of time. A saari is also measured in Gaj/Guz/Guzz. By 20th century 1 guz was made equal to one yard.
1 Gaj,Guz,Guzz = 1 yard
States where Gaj or Guz or guzz is used: Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana
Bigha or Beegha
It’s a very common age-old measuring unit which is predominantly used in most of India except for southern part of India. It has seen its use in Nepal and Bangladesh as well. The standard size of Bigha varies from state to state.
| State | Understanding of 1 Bigha |
| Assam | 14,400 sq ft |
| Bihar | 27,220 sq ft |
| Gujarat | 17,427 sq ft |
| Haryana | 27,225 sq ft |
| Himachal Pradesh | 8,712 sq ft |
| Jharkhand | 27,211 sq ft |
| Punjab | 9,070 sq ft |
| Rajasthan | 1 Pucca Bigha = 27,225 sq ft 1 kuchha Bigha = 17,424 sq ft |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12,000 sq ft |
| Uttarakhand | 6,804 sq ft |
| Uttar Pradesh | 27,000 sq ft |
| West Bengal | 14348.29 sq ft |
States where Bigha or Beegha is use: Bihar, Himachal ,Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Pradesh, Jharkhand ,Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam
Killa
A land measuring unit used in north India. A killa is a measurement of land in rectangular shape.
1 Killa = 43560 Square Feet
2.5 Killa = 1 hectare
States where Killa is used: Haryana, Punjab
Kanal
It s a Land measuring unit used in northern part of India. It is a unit which was standardised in British rule to be equal to 605 Square Yards or 505.857 Square Meters. Its also used in some parts of Pakistan
1 kanal = 4500 Square Feet
1 Kanal = 1/8 Acre
States where Kanal is used : Haryana, Punjab, jammu Kashmir
Marla
A very traditional Land measurement unit which is not just being used in north India but also in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was standardised in British rule to match one square “rod” or 30.25 square yards.
1 Marla = 272.25 Square Feet
1 Marla = 1/160 Acre
1 Marla = 9 sarsai
States where Marla is used: Haryana, Punjab
Ghumao
It’s a Land measurement unit used in norther parts of India. It is considered as somewhat equivalent to Acre. Due to different standards of measurement of Kanal unit, Ghumao unit value ranges for 0.759 Acre to 1 Acre.
1 Gumao = 8 Kanal
1 Ghumao = 0.759 Acre to 1 Acre
States where Ghumao is used: Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana
Karam or Kadam
This unit is also a popular unit of land measurement mainly used in norther part of India. Its standardised values range from 54, 56,57.157, 57.5,60 to 66 inches. Depending on the standardisation measurement used, its value changes. Its used to measure length and not the area.
States where Karam is used: Himachal Pradesh, Haryana
Sarsai
It’s a unit of measurement of land which depends on the standardized value of karma/kadam unit. Its only used majorly in few states in North of India. To remove all the confusion, a standard area has been allocated to Sarsai
1 Sarsai = 30.25 Square Feet (After standardisation)
1 sarsai (57.5 Inch “Karam”) = 3306.250 Square Inch or 2.133 Square Meter (Before standardisation)
1 sarsai (66 Inch “Karam”) = 4356 Square Inch or 2.810 Square Meter (Before standardisation)
States where Sarsai is used: Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab
Biswansi
This is another land measureing unit used in north India which had variable values depending on the variable values taken for the underlying unit of measuring length karam or kadam. It has been now standardised to have a set value.
1 Biswansi = 1/20 Biswa (Bigha-Biswa system after standardisation)
1 Biswansi (54 Inch “Karam”) = 2916 Square Inch or 1.881 Square meter (Before standardisation)
1 Biswansi (56 Inch “Karam”) = 3136 Square Inch or 2.023 Square Meter (Before standardisation)
States where Biswansi is used: Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab
Biswa
Depending on the Indian state and its standardization, the value of one Biswa can range from 50 to 150 Square yard. It has been now standardized under Bigha-Biswa system.
1 Biswa = 1350 Square Feet
20 Biswa = 1 Bigha or Beegha
States where Biswa is used: Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab
Unwansi
This is a very small area measurement unit used in India. Its main use has been seen in North India
1 Unwansi = 24.5025 Square Inches
States where Unwansi is used: Uttarakhand, Uttarpradesh
Kachwansi
This is a slightly bigger version of Unwansi. This land measuring unit is not that much in use but still can be seen in some parts of the north India.
1 Kachwansi = 20 Unwansi
States where Unwansi is used: Uttarakhand, Uttarpradesh
FAQ
Q : 1 ground in sq feet, one ground in square feet, 1 ground how many square feet, one ground how many square feet, how many square feet is one ground, how many square feet in one ground
Answer : 1 Ground = 2,400 Square Feet.
Q : 1 acre how many cent, 1 acre is equal to how many cent, 1 acre in cents, how many cent is one acre
Answer : 1 Acre = 100 Cents (100.04 cents accurately)
Q : 1 cent how many square feet, One cent how many square feet, 1 cent to square feet, One cent to square feet, 10 cent to square feet, How many square feet in one cent
Answer : 1 cent = 435.6 Square Feet
Q : how many kanal in one acre, kanal to acre, 1 acre to kanal, acre to kanal
Answer : 1 Kanal = 1/8 Acre and 8 Kanals = 1 Acre
Q : 1 kanal in square feet, One kanal in square feet, How many square feets in one kanal
Answer : 1 kanal = 4500 Square Feet
Q : how many square feet in one marla, 1 marla in square feet, how many feet in one marla
Answer : 1 Marla = 272.25 Square Feet
Q : 1 acre to marla, how many marla in one acre, How many marla in 1 acre
Answer : 1 Marla = 1/160 Acre . 160 Marla = 1 Acre
Q : 1 cent how many square meter, 1 cent to meter
Answer : 1 cent = 40.46 square meter
Q : 1 link is equal to feet
Answer : 1 link = 0.659449 foot
