When you buy a piece of land, the first thing to remember is the measurement unit used. There are standard units to determine the exact size of a residential or commercial purpose land. These units include square feet or square meters for large tracts. However, there are regional units, such as Bigha and Gaj.
What is a land measurement unit?
A land measurement unit is a metric used to find out the size of an area or a piece of land. So, the unit is a standardized measure. With the units’ help, individuals, organizations, and authorities can find out the extent of a piece of land. They can then use the measurement for land ownership records, agriculture, real estate transactions, urban planning, etc.
There are many land measurement units being used for different purposes. These units carry different names depending on the regions and historical or cultural factors. Here is the table of the standard measurement units in India:
Land measurement table
| Unit of Area | Conversion Unit |
| 1 Square Feet (sq. ft.) | 144 square inches |
| 1 Square Centimeter (sq. cm) | Approximately 0.00107639 sq. ft. |
| 1 Square Inch (sq. in) | Approximately 0.0069444 sq. ft. |
| 1 Square Kilometer (sq. km) | Approximately 247.1 acres |
| 1 Square Meter (sq. m) | Approximately 10.764 sq. ft. |
| 1 Square Mile | 640 acres or 259 hectares |
| 1 Square Yard (sq. yd.) | 9 sq. ft. |
| 1 Acre | 4840 sq. yd. or 100.04 cents |
| 1 Hectare | Approximately 10,000 sq. m or 2.49 acres |
These conversions are commonly used for property and land survey measurements.
Common conversions for land measurement
| 1 acre in bigha | 1 acre = 1.613 bigha |
| bigha to acre | 1 Bigha = 0.619 acres |
| acre to bigha | 1 Acre = 1.613 bigha |
| 1 hectare into bigha | 1 Hectare = 3.953 bigha |
| 1 bigha in square feet | 1 Bigha = 27,000 sq. ft. |
| 1 bigha in gaj | 1 Bigha = 3057.68 gaj |
Most used land measurement units in India
North India
| Units | States | Conversion |
| 1 Bigha | Parts of Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttarakhand | 1210 sqyd |
| 1 Biswa | Parts of HP, Uttarakhand | 48.4 sqyd |
| 1 Biswansi | UP, Punjab, Haryana, HP, Uttarakhand | 1/20 Biswa 1 Biswa = 20 Biswansis |
| 1 Killa/1 Ghumaon | Parts of Haryana, Punjab, HP | 4840 sqyd |
| 1 Kanal | JK, Punjab, HP, Haryana | 5445 sqft8 Kanals = 1 Acre |
South India
| 1 Ankanam | Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka | 72 sqft,1 Acre = 605 Ankanams |
| 1 Cent | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 435.6 sqft |
| 1 Ground | Parts of Tamil Nadu | 2400 sqft |
| 1 Guntha | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka | 1089 sqft |
| 1 Kuncham | Andhra Pradesh | 484 sqyd,1 Kuncham = 10 cents |
East India
| 1 Chatak | West Bengal | 180 sqft |
| 1 Decimal | West Bengal | 48.4 sqyd1 Acre = 100 decimals |
| 1 Dhur | Bihar, Jharkhand | 68.0625 sqft |
| 1 Kattha | Assam | 2880 sqft,1 Bigha = 5 Katthas |
| 1 Kattha | Bengal | 720 sqft,1 Bigha = 20 Katthas |
| 1 Kattha | Bihar | 1361.25 sqft,1 Bigha = 20 Katthas |
| 1 Lecha | Assam | 20 Lechas = 1 Kattha |
West India
| 1 Bigha | Bihar, parts of Rajasthan | Pucca 3025 sqyd |
| 1 Bigha | Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan | 1936 sqyd |
| 1 Biswa | Upper parts of Rajasthan | Pucca 151.25 sqyd |
| 1 Biswa | Lower parts of Rajasthan | 96.8 sqyd |
| 1 Biswansi | Rajasthan | 1/20 Biswa,1 Biswa = 20 Biswansis |
Central India
| 1 Bigha | Parts of Madhya Pradesh | 1333.33 sqyd |
| 1 Kattha | Madhya Pradesh | 1 Bigha (MP) = 20 Kathas, 600 sqft |
The difference between a plot and a ground
Property buyers should know the difference between a plot and a ground since these are confusing terms. Many people need to distinguish between the two. A good understanding of these terms helps you make a buying decision.
Plot and ground are the terms that are mostly interchangeably used. But these are a little apart from each other. A plot is any piece of land, irrespective of its size. So, a plot can be for any residential, industrial, agricultural, or commercial purpose.
A ‘ground,’ on the other hand, is a land measuring unit used in South India. This unit is mainly used to measure land in Tamil Nadu. One ground is equal to 2400 square feet, equal to 24 ‘’cents.’’ This unit is specially used for measuring residential plots in urban areas of the state.
The difference between square meter (sq. m) and hectare.
Square meters (sq. m) and hectares are commonly used units for land measurement. These are global units that are frequently used in India as well. But there is a difference between the two.
A square meter is one meter square and measures a small area. It is also a unit for precisely measuring an area, such as real estate.
Hectare (ha) is the unit used to measure larger land areas such as agricultural land. So, one hectare of land equals 2.47105 acres or 10,000 square meters.
Land measuring authorities in India
In India, tahsildars, Revenue Inspectors, and Patwaris are the land measuring authorities. Patwaris are particularly the authorities who measure land. They not only measure but also keep land records.
The term Patwari is usually used in North India and Central India. So, a patwari is a local authority responsible for maintaining ownership records.
Patwari is known by names such as Lekhpal, Kanungo, Karmchari, Village Officer, etc.
Standard land measuring units in India
There are multiple land measuring units in India. These units vary depending on the region. Here are some commonly used land metrics in India.
Hectare
Hectare is the unit often used for measuring forest and agricultural lands. The unit is also used for town planning and estate evaluation.
Acre
Acre is used to measure more extensive lands such as farmland and estates.
Bigha
Bigha is the land measuring unit commonly used in northern Indian states. But the unit has no standard size. For instance, one bigha in West Bengal equals 1,600 sq. yd., while in Uttarakhand, it equals 756.222 sq. yd.
Square Foot
A square foot is an imperial unit used worldwide, including India.
Ground
Ground is the measuring term generally used in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. This unit is equal to 203 sq. m or 24,000 sq. ft.
Square Meter
Known as a metered square, a square meter is a standard unit of measurement of an area.
Katha
Katha is a measuring unit popularly used in the eastern states of India, but it has no standard size. In Bihar, one Katha equals 1,361.25 sq. ft., while in West Bengal, it is 720 sq. ft.
So, these are the most used land measuring units in India. While buying land to build a home or a commercial building, just be aware of these units. That will help you know the correct measurements of your residential or commercial property.
Wrapping Up
There are several units used to measure land in India. These units are hectare, acre, bigha, square foot, ground, square meter, and katha. Ensure you have a basic knowledge of such measuring units in your locality to know the accurate land area of your home or commercial property.
