What Are the Different Land Measurement Units Used in India?

Do you plan to purchase a plot of property in India? Well, in that case, understanding measurements related to lands becomes quite necessary. The reason being there are many states in India which use different land measurement units.

No matter whether you wish to purchase the plot in a village or an urban area, you need to be aware of the way lands are measured in India. Failing to do so might result in trouble when reading the property documents or while dealing with the real estate agent.

Here, in this article, we will be discussing all such land measurement-related units that are commonly used in India in the simplest manner possible.

Why Is Land Measurement Important in Real Estate?

In real estate transactions, land measurements serve as the foundation of all deals. During a transaction, for instance, the amount paid for a piece of land depends on its measurements. In case you don’t understand the right unit of measurement, you will either pay too much or get too little in return.

Additionally, different units are used in various states of India. For example, the unit of measurement used in a property transaction in Rajasthan can be very different from the one in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Hence, each buyer needs to familiarize themselves with land measurements in India before purchasing a property.

Standard Land Measurement Units Used in India

Below are the units of land measuring that are commonly used in India.

1. Square Feet

The square feet measurement is one of the widely used units in India when it comes to urban real estate measuring. This unit is used by most of the developers to measure the size of the building or any other piece of land being used for commercial purposes. The term "1200 sq. ft. plot" only indicates that the land measures 1200 square feet.

2. Square Meter

The square meter is the official unit used in India to measure the area of properties. Official documents and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in India prefer the square meter unit. Many people who purchase properties in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru prefer the square meter. A square meter is equivalent to 10.76 square feet.

3. Square Yard

The square yard is one of the most common units used in North India, particularly in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. In these regions, many residential plots are measured in square yards. One square yard equals 9 square feet.

4. Acre

One of the most popular units used in India for measuring extensive lands is an acre. The acre unit is used both for agricultural and real estate purposes when referring to big plots or township projects. Whenever one mentions substantial real estate projects in India, the land area is usually indicated in acres. An acre equals 43,560 square feet or 4,840 square yards.

5. Hectare

The hectare unit is mostly utilized in government land records and large agricultural or commercial lands. This is a metric unit that is officially used in India. One hectare equals 10,000 square meters or 2.47 acres.

Traditional Land Measurement Units Used in India

Apart from the standard units of measurement for land area, there are various traditional or local units of measurement used by different states in India for measuring plots. Such units are prevalent in the rural regions and in regional real estate transactions.

6. Bigha

One of the commonest traditional units of land measurement in India is Bigha. This unit of measurement is commonly used in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The unit Bigha varies depending on the state it is applied. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, one Bigha measures 27,000 sq feet, 27,225 sq feet in Rajasthan and 14,400 sq feet in West Bengal. Therefore, when acquiring land through this unit of measurement, check the local value first.

7. Biswa

Another common traditional unit of land measurement in India is Biswa which is prevalent in the northern region. It is mostly used in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. In these states, one Bigha consists of 20 Biswa.

8. Katha

Katha is frequently used in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Assam. In real estate in these states, plots of land that are meant for residential purposes are measured in Katha. One Katha is equivalent to 1,361 square feet in the state of Bihar while it is roughly 720 square feet in West Bengal. The value of Katha, like Bigha, differs from state to state.

9. Gunta or Guntha

Gunta or Guntha is widely used in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. This is a common unit of measurement used in the South Indian real estate sector to measure plots and agricultural lands. One Gunta is equal to 1,089 square feet. When buying properties in these states, you might come across this unit of measurement in the documents you read.

10. Cent

Cent is a widely used land measurement unit in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. It is widely used in these states to measure plots of land and residential land. One cent is equivalent to 435.6 square feet while 100 cents are equivalent to one acre.

11. Kanal

Kanal is mostly used in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Kanal is a very traditional unit of measurement that can be used for the measurement of agriculture lands and also residential lands. One Kanal is equivalent to 5,445 square feet and 8 Kanals constitute an acre.

12. Marla

Marla is a smaller unit of measurement compared to Kanal which is used along with Kanal in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Most of the residential properties that you purchase in these regions would be calculated using the units of Marla. One Marla equals 272.25 square feet and 20 Marlas equals one Kanal. If you plan to purchase a small residential property in Punjab/Haryana, the measurement of the plot would be in Marla.

How to Avoid Confusion While Buying Property

Most property buyers face difficulties due to the number of various types of measurements of lands available in India. These are the measures which would help in avoiding confusion.

Ensure that the property seller or the real estate agent provides information on the land size using square feet or meters. This will be helpful since it is easier to know the exact size of the land being sold. Also, ensure that you do your homework before going for an inspection of a property by knowing about the measures of the land used in that state. The help of land measurement tools found online would also help in converting the measures into other types of units.

Conclusion

There are numerous measurement units in India for land. It is imperative to have a good understanding of the same for every buyer in the real estate sector. Be it purchasing an apartment in a city or buying a large piece of farmland in a village, learning about land measurement in India will always benefit you in making a wise choice.

Whether it is the square feet and acres used in the modern cities’ real estate industry or the units such as bigha, katha, gunta, and kanal that are popular in rural and regional areas, each one of these measurement units plays a crucial role and has value. Ensure that the right measurements of the property are verified before making any deals.

We hope this simple yet informative guide has provided you with all the essential details regarding plot measurement in India.

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