All Land Measurement Units in India – Complete List
Bigha, Biswa, Katha, Cent, Dismil, Guntha, Kanal, Marla and more — sizes and conversions explained.
India's Land Measurement Units
India uses both the international metric system (Hectare, Square Meter) and a variety of traditional regional units. Understanding these units is important for reading land records, property documents and Bhulekh portals.
| Unit | 1 Unit = Sq.Mt (approx) | 1 Hectare = | Used In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hectare (Ha) | 10,000 | 1 Ha | All India (official) |
| Acre | 4,047 | 2.471 Acre | Pan India |
| Bigha (UP/Bihar) | 2,025 | 4.94 Bigha | North India |
| Bigha (Assam/WB) | 674 | 14.83 Bigha | East India |
| Biswa (UP) | 101.25 | 98.80 Biswa | UP, MP, HR |
| Katha (Bihar) | ~101 | ~98.84 Katha | Bihar, JH, WB |
| Cent | 40.47 | 247.1 Cent | South India |
| Dismil | 40.47 | 247.1 Dismil | Bihar, JH, WB |
| Gaj (Sq. Yard) | 0.836 | 11,960 Gaj | North India |
| Guntha | 101.17 | 98.84 Guntha | Maharashtra, KA |
| Are | 100 | 100 Are | Global metric |
| Marla (Punjab) | 25.29 | 395.37 Marla | Punjab, HR, HP |
| Kanal | 505.9 | 19.77 Kanal | Punjab, HR, J&K |
Which Unit is Used in Government Records?
All government Bhulekh portals (Khatauni, Jamabandi) record land area in Hectares — the international metric standard. Use our calculators to convert from hectare to your local unit after reading your land records.
Region-Wise Most Common Units
- North India (UP, Bihar, MP, Haryana): Bigha, Biswa, Katha
- Northwest India (Punjab, HP, J&K): Kanal, Marla
- West India (Rajasthan, Gujarat): Bigha (different size), Biswa
- South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, AP): Cent, Ground, Guntha
- East India (Assam, WB): Bigha (smaller size), Katha, Lecha
Want to check land records for your own state? Browse our state-wise Bhulekh guides, or read Hectare vs Acre vs Bigha for a side-by-side comparison of the three most common units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which land unit is most common in North India?
In North India, Bigha is the most commonly used traditional unit. For official government records, Hectare is the standard.
How many bigha in 1 acre in UP?
1 Acre = 1.983 Bigha in UP/Bihar/MP (approx. 2 Bigha).
What is a Katha?
Katha (Kattha) is used in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. 1 Katha = 1/20 Bigha ≈ 101 Sq.Mt (Bihar). 1 Hectare ≈ 98.84 Katha (Bihar).
What is a Marla?
Marla is used in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. 1 Marla = 272.25 Sq.Ft = 25.29 Sq.Mt. 1 Hectare = 395.37 Marla.
What is a Kanal?
Kanal is used in Punjab, Haryana, J&K and HP. 1 Kanal = 20 Marla = 505.857 Sq.Mt. 1 Hectare = 19.77 Kanal.