The Authority Guide

Comprehensive Guide to Indian Land Measurement Units

Navigating the complex world of Bigha, Guntha, Kanal, and Cent. A state-by-state analysis for farmers, real estate investors, and property buyers.

Traditional vs. Modern Land Measurement Units in India

India's real estate landscape is unique. While official property documents like the Registry (Sale Deed) often use standard metric units (Square Meters, Hectares) or Imperial units (Acres), the actual ground-level negotiation happens in traditional Indian land measurement units.

Whether you are looking for a bigha to square feet conversion calculator online free or trying to understand how many square feet in one bigha in Uttar Pradesh, this guide covers every single variation used across the subcontinent.

North India: The Bigha & Kanal Belt

In North India, particularly for agricultural land purchase, the most common units are Bigha, Biswa, Kanal, and Marla.

Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan

Investors often ask: "How many biswa in one bigha in Uttar Pradesh?" The answer depends on the district.

  • Pucca Bigha: Used in Eastern UP and parts of Rajasthan. 1 Pucca Bigha is typically 27,225 Sq. Ft.
  • Kachha Bigha: Common in Western UP. You can use our Meerut Bigha Converter to see that it is often one-third or one-fourth of a Pucca Bigha.
  • Biswa: A sub-unit. 20 Biswa usually equals 1 Bigha.

For convert biswa to square meter for Rajasthan plots, using a Rajasthan land measurement converter is essential due to the "Pucca vs Kachha" variation.

Punjab, Haryana & Himachal

Here, the system shifts to Kanal and Marla. A common query is for a marla to sq ft calculator for Punjab and Haryana.

  • 1 Kanal: Equals 8 Marlas (approx 5,445 Sq. Ft).
  • 1 Marla: Approx 272.25 Sq. Ft.

Use our kanal to hectare conversion for North India property tool for accurate farm valuation.

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East India: Katha, Dhur & Lecha

Moving East, we encounter the Katha (or Kattha) and Dhur.

West Bengal & Assam

A frequent search is for a katha to acre converter for West Bengal land. In Bengal, the Katha is standardized to 720 Sq. Ft. However, in Assam, units like Lecha appear.

Bihar & Jharkhand

Farmers often need to know how many square feet in 1 katha in Bihar. Unlike Bengal, a Katha in Bihar (Patna/Gaya) is often larger (1,361.25 Sq. Ft). Always use a dedicated kattha to sq ft in Bihar and Jharkhand calculator.

West & South: Guntha, Cent & Ground

The Deccan and Southern peninsula use a completely different set of units derived from British survey chains.

Maharashtra & Gujarat

The gold standard here is the Guntha. Guntha to hectare conversion for Maharashtra agriculture land is a daily necessity for farmers. 1 Guntha is 1,089 Sq. Ft (33 ft x 33 ft).

Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Andhra

Real estate in Chennai revolves around the "Ground".
How to calculate ground to acre in Tamil Nadu? 1 Ground = 2,400 Sq. Ft.

In Kerala, the "Cent" is king. Use our cent to square feet converter for Kerala land. In Andhra/Telangana, look out for "Ankanam" and "Gajam" (gajam to square meter calculator online).

Property Registration & Stamp Duty

When dealing with legal documents, accurate conversion is not optional—it's mandatory. Using a land unit converter for property registration documents ensures you pay the correct stamp duty.

Stamp Duty Calculation

Governments calculate duty based on circle rates (usually per Sq. Meter). You must convert traditional units to metric system land values before paying.

Bank Loans

Banks require convert local land units to acres for banks (KCC loans). They rarely accept "Kachha Bigha" without standardization.

Quick Conversion Tools

Convert Bigha to Square FeetConvert Guntha to AcreConvert Kanal to MarlaConvert Cent to Square FeetConvert Gajam to Square YardsConvert Katha to DecimalConvert Ground to CentConvert Biswa to BighaConvert Ankanam to Acre

Frequently Asked Questions

How many square feet in one bigha?

It varies by state. In UP/Bihar (Pucca), it is ~27,225 sq ft. In Rajasthan/Western UP (Kachha), it can be ~6,800 or ~17,424 sq ft.

How many cents in 1 acre?

There are exactly 100 Cents in 1 Acre. This is a standard conversion used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

What is the difference between Bigha and Hectare?

Bigha is a traditional unit with varying values. Hectare is a metric unit (10,000 sq meters or ~2.47 Acres) used for official legal records.

How to convert Guntha to Sq Ft?

1 Guntha is equal to 1,089 Square Feet. It is calculated as 33 feet x 33 feet.