India has a wide range of land measurement units, from local words like “bigha,” “marla,” and “dhur” to more commonly used ones like square yards. These units vary not only between states but even within a single state’s multiple areas. It is essential to comprehend these local units, particularly if you intend to work in the diverse Indian real estate industry. The various land units used in each state are explained in this article by Brikazo Real Estate Advisory.
You may have come across terminology like “acre,” “square feet” (sq ft), “square meter” (sq m), and “hectare” while purchasing a home. However, regional units like bigha, guntha, and cent are also used in many parts of India.
This guide by Brikazo Real Estate Advisory explains the commonly used units, conversions, and most importantly—how many square feet in an acre—to help property buyers make informed decisions.
Table of Contents
- How Many Square Feet In An Acre?
- Here are list of sq ft in an acre
- Common Land Size Units in India
- Land measurement units used in different parts of India
- FAQs
How Many Square Feet In An Acre?
A common question among property buyers and investors is — how many square feet in an acre?
To answer this, both an acre and a square foot are units of area measurement, but the acre is significantly larger. One acre equals 43,560 square feet. This standard is used worldwide, including in India, the US, and the UK.
Formula for Acre to Square Feet Conversion:
Square Feet = Number of Acres × 43,560
Example:
If you have 2 acres,
Square Feet = 2 × 43,560 = 87,120 sq ft
This simple conversion helps buyers, surveyors, and developers accurately calculate land size and value.
If you need quick conversions, you can use an online acre-to-square-feet calculator—a free and handy tool for real estate professionals, students, or investors.
Here are list of sq ft in an acre
Square Feet
Acre
10,890 sq ft
0.25 acre
21,780 sq ft
0.5 acre
43,560 sq ft
1 acre
87,120 sq ft
2 acres
217,800 sq ft
5 acres
435,600 sq ft
10 acres
4,356,000 sq ft
100 acres
Common Land Size Units in India
When buying property or land in India, you’ll often come across terms like acre, square feet (sq ft), square meter (sq m), and hectare. However, depending on the region, you might also hear local units such as bigha, guntha, cent, or ground.
Let’s break down some of these standard units:
Square Foot (sq ft): The most commonly used unit across India, especially in urban real estate markets like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Apartments, flats, and commercial spaces are usually measured in square feet.
Acre: A large-scale land measurement unit often used for agricultural or development plots. One acre equals 43,560 square feet, which is also known as square feet per acre.
Bigha: Popular in North India, but varies from state to state. For example, in Punjab, one bigha equals about 9,070 sq ft, while in Uttar Pradesh it could be around 27,000 sq ft.
Hectare: Commonly used by government and development bodies. One hectare equals 10,000 square meters or approximately 2.47 acres.
Ground: Used mostly in Tamil Nadu, one ground equals 2,400 square feet.
Square Meter (sq m): Increasingly popular in metro cities, especially among developers and international buyers. You can easily convert square meters to square feet using the formula:
1 square meter = 10.7639 square feet.
Here are more land measurement units used in India, along with their square feet conversion:
Measurement Unit
Per Square Foot Conversion
1 Square Yard
9 sq ft
1 Square Kilometre
10 million sq ft
1 Square Metre
10.76 sq ft
1 Square Mile
27 million sq ft
1 Biswa
1,350 sq ft
1 Killa
43,560 sq ft
1 Kanal
5,445 sq ft
1 Nali
2,160 sq ft
1 Chatak
45 sq ft
1 Ares
1076.39 sq ft
1 Katha
1361.25 sq ft
Land measurement units used in different parts of India
India’s diversity extends to its land units too. While bigha dominates in the North, guntha is used in Maharashtra and Karnataka, cent in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and ground in Chennai.
Understanding the local measurement systems and how they relate to square feet per acre or square meters to square feet is key to evaluating property prices accurately.
What type of land measurement units are used in North India?
Bigha units is used in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Bihar
Biswa units is used in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab
Biswa Kacha is used in the lower parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP
Killa is used in some parts of Haryana and Punjab
Ghumaon is used in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab
Kanal is used in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir
Units
Square Feet
Square Yard
Acre
1 Bigha
27,225 sq ft
3,025 sq yard
0.6 acre
1 Biswa
1,350 sq ft
150 sq yard
0.03 acre
1 Biswa Kacha (2.02 Biswa)
2,722.5 sq ft
302.5 sq yard
0.06 acre
1 Killa
43,560 sq ft
4,840 sq yard
1 acre
1 Ghumaon
43,560 sq ft
4,840 sq yard
1 acre
1 Kanal
5,445 sq ft
605 sq yard
0.1 acre
What type of land measurement units are used in South India?
Ankanam is used in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Cent is used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
Ground is used in parts of Tamil Nadu
Guntha is used in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Units
Square Feet
Square Yard
Acre
1 Ankanam
72 sq ft
8 sq yard
0.001 acre
1 Cent
435.56 sq ft
48.4 sq yard
0.009 acre
1 Ground
2400.35 sq ft
266.71 sq yard
0.05 acre
1 Guntha
1089 sq ft
121 sq yard
0.02 acre
What type of land measurement units are used in East India?
Chatak and Decimal is used in West Bengal
Dhur is used in Bihar and Jharkhand
Katha is used in Assam and Bengal
Lecha is used in Assam
Units
Square Feet
Square Yard
Acre
1 Chatak
45 sq ft
5 sq yard
0.001 acre
1 Decimal
435.56 sq ft
48.4 sq yard
0.009 acre
1 Dhur
68.06 sq ft
7.56 sq yard
0.001 acre
1 Katha
1361.25 sq ft
151.25 sq yard
0.03 acre
1 Lecha
144 sq ft
7.5 sq yard
0.003 acre
What type of land measurement units are used in West India?
Bigha is used in Bihar, Gujarat, and parts of Rajasthan
Biswa is used in the upper and lower parts of Rajasthan
Biswansi is used in Rajasthan
Units
Square Yard
1 Bigha
1936 sq yd
1 Biswa
96.8 sq yd
1 Biswansi
3.025 sq yd
What type of land measurement units are used in Central India?
Bigha is used in Parts of Madhya Pradesh
Kattha is used in Madhya Pradesh
Units
Square Yard
1 Bigha
1333.33 sq yd
1 Kattha
151.25 sq yd
Understanding how many sq ft are in an acre or converting square meters to square feet might seem technical, but it’s a vital step in any real estate decision. Whether you’re buying a property in Mumbai or a plot in Gurgaon, knowing these conversions ensures you get the right value for your money.
Brikazo Real Estate Advisory recommends always verifying land area details and using online conversion tools to simplify your property journey.
FAQs
- How many square feet are in 1 acre?
A: In one acre there are 43,560 square feet. This is the standard measurement used worldwide.
- What is the formula to convert acres to square feet?
A: Multiply the number of acres by 43,560 to get the total square feet per acre.
- How do I calculate sq ft in an acre manually?
A: Simply use the formula:
Square Feet = Acres × 43,560.
- Why is it important to know how many sq ft are in an acre?
A: Knowing the square feet in an acre helps buyers and developers accurately estimate land size and property value.
- What does “square feet per acre” mean?
A: Square feet per acre refers to how many square feet of area are contained in one acre—which is always 43,560 sq ft.
- How do I convert square meters to square feet?
A: Use the conversion formula:
1 square meter = 10.7639 square feet.
- Can I use an online calculator for acres to square feet conversion?
A: Yes, many free online tools instantly convert acres to square feet or square meters to square feet accurately.