Gaj, bigha, acre and more: Indian land units explained state by state
A gaj is a square yard everywhere, but a bigha in Rajasthan is three times a bigha in Punjab. The conversion factors behind Indian land records, and the traps to avoid.
4 min read · Published 2026-10-31 · Last reviewed 2026-10-31
Indian property is described in at least four measurement systems at once. A plot in Jaipur is sold in gaj, recorded in the revenue register in bigha and biswa, quoted by the architect in square feet and approved by the municipality in square metres. Most of these units convert exactly. One of them, the bigha, does not, and that is where expensive misunderstandings happen.
The fixed units
These mean the same thing everywhere in India.
| Unit | Equals | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Square foot (sq ft) | 0.0929 sq m | Flats, construction rates, advertising |
| Gaj (square yard) | 9 sq ft, 0.836 sq m | Plots in north India |
| Square metre (sq m) | 10.764 sq ft | Municipal approvals, RERA, legal documents |
| Marla | 272.25 sq ft (30.25 gaj) | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J&K |
| Kanal | 20 marla = 5,445 sq ft | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J&K |
| Cent | 435.6 sq ft (1/100 acre) | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka |
| Ground | 2,400 sq ft | Chennai |
| Guntha | 1,089 sq ft (1/40 acre) | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat |
| Acre | 43,560 sq ft = 4,840 gaj = 40 guntha | Everywhere |
| Hectare | 10,000 sq m = 2.471 acres | Government land records |
Two conversions worth memorising: 1 gaj = 9 sq ft and 1 acre = 4,840 gaj. A "100 gaj plot" is 900 sq ft; a "200 gaj plot" is 1,800 sq ft.
The bigha problem
The bigha is a traditional unit that each region defined by its own rod length, and it was never standardised. Commonly used values:
| State | 1 bigha in sq ft | In gaj | In acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan (pucca) | 27,225 | 3,025 | 0.625 |
| Rajasthan (kaccha) | 17,424 | 1,936 | 0.4 |
| Haryana | 27,225 | 3,025 | 0.625 |
| Uttar Pradesh (west) | 27,000 | 3,000 | 0.62 |
| Uttar Pradesh (east) | 20,000 | 2,222 | 0.46 |
| Bihar | 27,220 | 3,024 | 0.625 |
| Gujarat | 17,427 | 1,936 | 0.4 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12,000 | 1,333 | 0.275 |
| West Bengal | 14,400 | 1,600 | 0.33 |
| Assam | 14,400 | 1,600 | 0.33 |
| Punjab | 9,070 | 1,008 | 0.208 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 8,712 | 968 | 0.2 |
| Uttarakhand | 6,804 | 756 | 0.156 |
The same word spans a three-to-one range. Rajasthan alone has two bighas, and within Uttar Pradesh the western and eastern districts differ by a third. A broker who says "two bigha" without naming the district is not telling you the area.
Sub-units are equally local. A bigha is 20 biswa in most of north India, and a biswa is 20 biswansi. In Bengal a bigha is 20 katha, each of 720 sq ft. Always read the revenue record (khasra, khatauni, 7/12 extract, jamabandi) in the unit the state uses, then convert.
Which measurement is legally binding
For a registered sale deed, the area written in the deed controls. For an apartment, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 requires the builder to sell on carpet area in square metres or square feet, defined as the net usable floor area excluding external walls, balconies and common areas but including internal partition walls. For land, the revenue record controls, and the sale deed should quote the record's unit and area, with the conversion to square metres alongside.
If the deed area and the revenue record disagree, get it resolved before registration. Courts generally hold the buyer to the deed.
Measuring a plot yourself
For a rectangular plot, area is length times width. Measure both sides in feet with a 30 m tape, measure both diagonals too; if the diagonals differ by more than a few inches the plot is not a true rectangle and you should have it surveyed. For irregular plots, split into rectangles and triangles and add the areas. The perimeter tells you boundary wall length and cost.
Try the plot area calculator for dimensions in feet, metres or yards, and the land unit converter for any unit including state-specific bighas.
Three traps
- Carpet versus plot. A 1,200 sq ft flat and a 1,200 sq ft plot are not comparable; the flat's number already excludes walls and common areas under RERA, while a plot is gross land.
- Gaj versus square gaj. Some old documents in Punjab write "gaj" meaning linear yards. Check whether the figure is an area or a side length.
- Rounded bighas. Revenue records often show fractions in biswa; "1 bigha 10 biswa" is 1.5 bigha, not 1.1.
Sources
This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules change; the review date above tells you when it was last checked. See our editorial policy.