Land Area Units in India: Guntha, Acre, Hectare and Square Feet Explained
Buying or selling land in India means meeting a confusing mix of units. A 7/12 extract in Maharashtra may list guntha and acre, a builder quotes square feet, and a government record may use hectare. This guide explains each unit and how they convert, so you can compare figures without errors.
The units you will meet
- Square foot (sq ft): the everyday unit for plots and flats.
- Square yard (also called gaj in parts of north India): 1 square yard = 9 square feet.
- Square metre (sq m): the metric unit, used in many official plans. 1 sq m = 10.764 sq ft.
- Guntha: common in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. 1 guntha = 33 ft × 33 ft = 1,089 sq ft = about 101.17 sq m.
- Acre: 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft = about 4,046.86 sq m = 40 guntha.
- Hectare: 1 hectare = 10,000 sq m = about 2.471 acres = about 98.8 guntha.
- Cent: used in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of the south. 1 cent = 1/100 acre = 435.6 sq ft.
- Are: 100 sq m. A hectare is 100 ares.
Quick conversion table
| Unit | Square feet | Square metres |
|---|---|---|
| 1 guntha | 1,089 | 101.17 |
| 1 cent | 435.6 | 40.47 |
| 1 acre (40 guntha) | 43,560 | 4,046.86 |
| 1 hectare | 107,639 | 10,000 |
Why bigha and some local units are tricky
Units such as bigha, biswa and kanal are not the same everywhere. A bigha in one state can be several times larger than a bigha in another, and the definition can even differ between districts. Never assume a conversion for these. Ask for the exact area in square feet or square metres in the sale papers, or check the local revenue department's definition for that region.
Worked examples
Example 1: guntha to square feet. A plot is listed as 5 guntha. Area = 5 × 1,089 = 5,445 sq ft, which is about 505.9 sq m.
Example 2: acre to guntha. A farm of 2.5 acres is 2.5 × 40 = 100 guntha, or 108,900 sq ft.
Example 3: price per square foot. A 3-guntha plot costs ₹24,00,000. The area is 3 × 1,089 = 3,267 sq ft. The price is 24,00,000 ÷ 3,267 = about ₹735 per sq ft. Putting different plots on the same unit like this lets you compare them fairly.
Example 4: hectare to acre. A government record shows 1.2 hectares. That is 1.2 × 2.471 = about 2.97 acres.
Carpet area, built-up area and plot area
For flats, the word "area" can mean different things. Carpet area is the usable floor space inside the walls. Built-up area adds the thickness of walls and balconies. Super built-up area adds a share of common spaces such as lifts and lobbies. The price per square foot is much lower on a super built-up basis than on a carpet basis, so always compare the same type of area. For land and plots, check whether the stated area is from the title deed, from a survey, or only from the seller's estimate.
Tips before you buy
- Ask for the area in a metric or square-foot figure on the sale papers, in addition to the local unit.
- Check the area against the survey number or plot number in the official records.
- Do not round early. A small rounding on a large plot can mean lakhs of rupees.
- For a regular shape, work out the area yourself with our Area Calculator.
To convert between guntha, acre, hectare and square feet in one step, use the Unit Converter. Always confirm legal areas with the official land records, because this article is general information.