Land Measurement Units in India: Bigha, Acre, Cent, Guntha
Land measurement units in India play a very important role in land records, agriculture, property buying, and legal documentation. India follows a combination of standard (metric) units and regional traditional units, which often change from state to state and even district to district. If you travel from North India to South India, the terminology changes completely. In the North, people commonly use Bigha, Biswa, Kanal, Marla, while in the South you will hear Cent, Guntha, Ground, Ankanam, and in Eastern India units like Kattha, Dhur, Decimal, Lecha are widely used.
This detailed guide explains all land measurement units used in India, their conversions, regional variations, and how they are reflected in Bhulekh and other digital land record portals.
Land Measurement Units in India
Land measurement is the process of calculating the area of land using fixed units. These measurements are recorded in official documents such as:
- Bhulekh / ROR (Record of Rights)
- Khasra & Khatauni
- Jamabandi
- Property registry deeds
- Bhu Naksha (land maps)
India does not follow a single traditional unit nationwide. However, metric units like Square Meter and Hectare are now officially accepted for government records, while traditional units continue to be used locally.
Common Land Measurement Units in India
These units are commonly used across India and are accepted in legal, real estate, and government documentation.
Square Foot (sq ft)
Square Foot is one of the most widely used land measurement units in India, especially for residential plots, flats, and buildings.
- 1 Square Foot = 0.092903 Square Meter
- Used mainly in urban and semi-urban areas
- Standard unit under RERA for residential properties
Square Yard (sq yd / Gaj)
Square Yard is locally recognized as “Gaj” across North Indian states.
- 1 Square Yard = 9 Square Feet
- Measured as 3 ft × 3 ft
- Frequently used in housing plots and colonies
Square Meter (sq m)
Square Meter is the official international unit for land measurement.
- 1 Square Meter = 10.7639 Square Feet
- Used in government land records and urban planning
- 10,000 Square Meters = 1 Hectare
Acre
Acre is one of the most popular land measurement units in India, especially for agricultural land.
- 1 Acre = 43,560 Square Feet
- 1 Acre = 0.405 Hectare
- 1 Acre = 40 Guntha
- Used nationwide for farmland and large plots
Hectare
Hectare is a globally accepted land measurement unit for large land areas.
- 1 Hectare = 10,000 Square Meters
- 1 Hectare ≈ 2.47 Acres
- Commonly used in government surveys and agricultural statistics
Regional Land Measurement Units in India
Apart from standard units, India has many regional land measurement units that are still actively used in villages, land records, and local transactions.
Land Measurement Units in North India
North India has the maximum variety of land measurement units, and their size varies greatly by state.
Bigha
Bigha is the most commonly used unit in North India. However, there is no fixed size for Bigha.
- Pucca Bigha: ~3025 sq yd (165 ft × 165 ft)
- Used in Rajasthan, Bihar, parts of UP, Punjab, Haryana
- Kachha Bigha is smaller and used where settlement is incomplete
Biswa
Biswa is a sub-unit of Bigha.
- 1 Bigha = 20 Biswa (commonly)
- Size of Biswa varies depending on the size of Bigha
- Widely used in UP, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand
Kila
Kila is another name for Acre in some northern states.
- 1 Kila = 4840 sq yd
- Used in Haryana and Punjab
Ghumaon
Ghumaon is also equivalent to 1 Acre.
- Used in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana
Kanal
Kanal is widely used in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir.
- 1 Kanal = 5445 sq ft
- 8 Kanal = 1 Acre
Sarasahi (Square Karam)
- 1 Sarasahi = 30.25 sq ft
- Measured as 1 Karam × 1 Karam
- 9 Sarasahi = 1 Marla
Land Measurement Units in South India
South India follows a more standardized local system compared to the North.
Ankanam
- 1 Ankanam = 72 sq ft
- Used in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
- 1 Acre ≈ 605 Ankanams
Cent
Cent is one of the most popular land units in South India.
- 1 Cent = 435.6 sq ft
- 100 Cents = 1 Acre
- Used in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Ground
- 1 Ground = 2400 sq ft
- Commonly used in Tamil Nadu
- 1 Ground ≈ 5.5 Cents
Guntha
- 1 Guntha = 1089 sq ft
- Measured as 33 ft × 33 ft
- 40 Gunthas = 1 Acre
- Used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Kuncham
- 1 Kuncham = 484 sq yd
- Used in Andhra Pradesh
- 1 Kuncham = 10 Cents
Land Measurement Units in Eastern India
Eastern India uses smaller land units suitable for densely populated regions.
Chatak
- 1 Chatak = 180 sq ft
- Used in West Bengal
- 16 Chatak = 1 Katha
Decimal
- 1 Decimal = 48.4 sq yd
- 100 Decimals = 1 Acre
- Used mainly in West Bengal
Dhur
- Bihar/Jharkhand: 1 Dhur = 68.0625 sq ft
- Tripura: 1 Dhur = 3.6 sq ft
- 20 Dhur = 1 Kattha
Kattha / Katha
- Assam: 1 Kattha = 2880 sq ft
- Bengal: 1 Kattha = 720 sq ft
- Bihar: 1 Kattha = 1361.25 sq ft
Lecha
- 1 Lecha = 144 sq ft
- Used in Assam
- 20 Lecha = 1 Kattha
Land Measurement Units in Central India
Bigha
- 1 Bigha ≈ 1333.33 sq yd
- Used in Madhya Pradesh
Kattha
- 1 Kattha = 600 sq ft
- 1 Bigha = 20 Kattha
Land Measurement Units in Western India
Pucca Bigha
- 3025 sq yd
- Used in Rajasthan
Bigha
- 1936 sq yd
- Used in Gujarat and Rajasthan
Biswa & Biswansi
- 1 Bigha = 20 Biswa
- 1 Biswa = 20 Biswansi
- Used mainly in Rajasthan
How to Measure Land Area in India
- Measure length and width using tape or laser device
- Multiply length × width for area
- Convert using standard or regional units
- Use Bhulekh and Bhu Naksha portals for official digital measurements
Authorities Related to Land Measurement in India
- Patwari / Lekhpal – Village-level land records
- Tehsildar – Revenue officer
- State Revenue Department
- Survey of India
- Bhulekh / Bhoomi / Meebhoomi / Dharani portals
Importance of Land Measurement in India
- Prevents land disputes
- Ensures accurate land records
- Helps in buying and selling property
- Essential for agriculture and government schemes
- Supports digital land mapping
Conclusion
Land measurement units in India reflect the country’s diverse history and regional practices. While standard units like Acre, Hectare, and Square Meter are officially accepted, traditional units like Bigha, Cent, Guntha, Kattha remain deeply rooted in local land records.
With digital platforms like Bhulekh India, citizens can now easily learn how to check land area, ownership, and property details online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patwari, Lekhpal, and Survey Department officials measure land.
Square Meter, Acre, and Hectare.
Approximately 1.6 Bigha (varies by state).
Square Yard.
Approximately 8 acres (depending on region).
Depends on plot size; for 1000 sq ft plots, approx. 43 plots.
Typically 60:40 or 70:30 for residential construction.
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