Indian land units, explained
India uses a rich mix of traditional and metric land units, and which one you meet depends on where the land is. In the south, cent (one-hundredth of an acre) dominates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while ground (2,400 sq ft) is standard for house plots in Chennai. Guntha (1,089 sq ft, one-fortieth of an acre) is common across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In the north and west you'll hear bigha, kanal (5,445 sq ft) and marla. Globally useful units — square feet, square metre, square yard (gaj), acre, hectare and are — are all here too.
Quick reference
- 1 acre = 100 cent = 40 guntha = 18.15 ground = 43,560 sq ft
- 1 hectare = 2.471 acre = 10,000 sq m = 107,639 sq ft
- 1 cent = 435.6 sq ft · 1 ground = 2,400 sq ft · 1 guntha = 1,089 sq ft
- 1 gaj (sq yard) = 9 sq ft · 1 kanal = 5,445 sq ft · 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't there one value for bigha?
Bigha is a traditional unit that was never standardised nationally, so its size varies widely — from about 14,400 sq ft in West Bengal to 27,225 sq ft in parts of Rajasthan. Use the state reference table and confirm locally.
Is a cent the same everywhere?
Yes. A cent is always one-hundredth of an acre, or 435.6 sq ft, wherever it's used.
What's the difference between gaj and square yard?
None — gaj is simply the Hindi word for a square yard, which equals 9 square feet.