Understanding the area measurement units of Pakistan (Updated 2024)

Have you ever wanted to be part of the conversations your uncles and father have about real estate? Do you also want to chime in with your carefully constructed and factually correct rebuttal? Have you ever gone through the whole ordeal of finding the right moment to interrupt with your opinion only to be stumped by them talking in entirely different units of measurements? You think to yourself that what are these marlas? I know only feet, yards and metres and your meticulously crafted response goes down the drain. Well don’t be dejected for Graana.com is here. We will help you be the belligerent person who always knows what they are talking about. You can be someone who knows only the local measurement units but aren’t familiar with the feet, yards and metres. Well, this blog will be of help to all of you. Be it students, contractors, realty agents or that belligerent kid, this blog is an equal opportunity learning experience.

Linear Measure of Land:

To create a conversion table, we have to start from the basic measures. In simple words, the lengths you measure with a ruler or tape are linear. So units like an inch, foot, yard, mile, centimetre and metre are units of linear measure. The basic unit that was used in the subcontinent for linear measures was ghatta, which is still used in some areas.

1 inch = 2.54 centimetres

1 foot = 30.48 centimetres

1 yard = 91.44 centimetres

1 mile =1.61 kilometres

1 Ghatta = 8.25 feet

The Square Measure of Land:

When you need to know the area, a part of a region covering a surface, you use square units. Square units come in handy to know how much tile is needed to cover a floor, the size of a wall to be painted, grass needed for your garden or carpet needed for your room.

Again, we will start with the conventional units and then mention units which we originated from the subcontinent and slowly grew obsolete but are still used in some areas such as Bigha and Biswa.

1 square foot = 0.093 square metre

1 square yard = 0.836 square metre

1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometre = 259 hectares

1 acre = 0.405 hectares

1 Acre = 4 Bigha 16 Biswa (4840 Sq.Yds)

1 Bigha = 20 Biswas (1008 Sq.Yds)

1 Biswa = 50 Sq. Yards

Biswa and Bigha are pre-partition units which are almost obsolete but some areas do use them.

Units native to Pakistan:

Native units have always been confusing. That is why we have compiled a list of the mainly used units in Pakistan and their equivalents.

1 Karam is 5.5 feet

1 Marla is 9 Sq karams (272.25 sq ft)

1 Kanaal is 20 marlas (5,445 sq ft)

1 Keela is 8 kanaals (43,560 sq ft = 1 acre)

1 Marabba is 25 keelas (1,089,000 sq ft = 25 acres)

A keela is measured rectangularly, reckoned as an area of 36 karams x 40 karams, or 198 feet x 220 feet = 43,560 square feet.

Area for houses in Pakistan is generally measured in marlas and kanaals, so do take note of them.

Some other basic units used in certain parts of the country are given below

1 Karam = 5.5 ft. = 1.67 m

1 sq. Karam = 5.5 x 5.5 ft. = 30.25 Sq. ft.

1 Pole = 9 Sq karam = 272.25 Sq. ft.

40 pole = 1 Rod = 10890 Sq. ft.

4 Rod = 1 Acre = 43560 Sq. ft.

Another unit that has been around is the chain. The conversion of the chain is as follows:

1 inch = 10 Chain

1 Chain = 66 feet or 22 yards

10 chains = 1 furlong

1 furlong = 201.168 Metres

British Units:

In the subcontinent, the measurement of agricultural land was carried in mainly British Units. The units used were as follows:

12 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 yard

9 Square Feet = 1 square yard

121Square yard = 1 Guntha

40 Gunthas = 1 acre

Metric Units:

Now the land is nowadays measured in Metric system. Using this table you can convert/understand and measure land

1000 Millimetres = 1 Metre

100 Square Metres = 1 Are

100 Ares = 1 Hectare

1 Hectare = 2.47 acres

Conversion Table:

So after we have understood all of that, here is the conversion table to understand how land is measured.

1 Inch = 2.54 Centimetre

36 Inches = 1 yard

1 yard = 91.44 Centimetres

1 yard = 00.9144 Metres

1 Centimetre = 00.393 inches

100 Centimetres = 39.3 inches

1 Metre = 3.28 ft

1 acre = 1 furlong X 1 chain

1 acre = 660 ft X 66 ft

1 acre = 43560 Sq. ft.

1 acre = 4840 square yards

1 acre = 4046.8564224 Square Metres

1 hectare = 10,000 Square Metre

1 hectare = 107,639 sq ft

1 hectare = 11959.8 sq. yards (1 sq. yard = 0.83612736 sq. Metre)

1 hectare = 11959.8/4840 = 2.47 acre

Now you have all of this information regarding land conversion and have most probably understood how it all is interconvertible. If you have anything to add, or any questions to ask, please use the comments section below.