Gaj to Square Feet, Marla, Kanal and Acre: The Conversion Table Indian Property Runs On
One plot, four different numbers, depending on who is describing it. Here are the exact conversions between gaj, square feet, marla, kanal, bigha and acre, why the rounded versions your team uses cost you money, and how to stop converting by hand.
The exact conversions
These are definitional, not approximate. Everything in the Punjab and Haryana measurement system is built on the square foot, which is why the numbers come out clean.
| Unit | In square feet | In square yards (gaj) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gaj (square yard) | 9 sq ft | 1 gaj | The default for plots across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP |
| 1 Square foot | 1 sq ft | 0.1111 gaj | The default for constructed flats and apartments |
| 1 Marla | 272.25 sq ft | 30.25 gaj | Punjab and Haryana standard marla |
| 1 Kanal | 5,445 sq ft | 605 gaj | Exactly 20 marla |
| 1 Acre | 43,560 sq ft | 4,840 gaj | Exactly 8 kanal |
| 1 Square metre | 10.7639 sq ft | 1.1960 gaj | Used in RERA filings and approved layouts |
| 1 Hectare | 1,07,639.1 sq ft | 11,959.9 gaj | Exactly 2.4711 acres |
Note on marla: 272.25 sq ft is the Punjab and Haryana standard. Some regions historically used a 25 sq yard marla, and bigha varies so much between states that it should never be used in a contract without stating the local value.
Why the rounded version costs you money
Plenty of teams work with “1 marla is about 272 sq ft” or “1 kanal is roughly 5,400 sq ft”. On a single small plot the error is invisible. On a kanal quoted at ₹9,000 per square foot, rounding 5,445 down to 5,400 understates the plot by ₹4,05,000. Do that on a five-kanal deal and you have given away a car.
The other expensive mistake
Quoting a rate and sending it as a total. ₹52,000 per gaj on a 112.5 gaj plot is ₹58,50,000. If your listing shows ₹52,000 as the price, every client who sees it thinks the plot costs less than a scooter, and the ones who understand simply do not reply.
Worked examples
A 112.5 gaj plot at ₹52,000 per gaj
112.5 × 52,000 = ₹58,50,000. In square feet that plot is 1,012.5 sq ft, so the same price expressed per square foot is ₹5,777.78.
A 10 marla plot at ₹4,500 per square foot
10 marla = 2,722.5 sq ft. 2,722.5 × 4,500 = ₹1,22,51,250. The same plot is 302.5 gaj, so the per-gaj rate is ₹40,500.
Two acres at ₹1.2 crore per acre
2 acres = 87,120 sq ft = 9,680 gaj = 16 kanal. Total ₹2,40,00,000. Being able to restate that as 16 kanal is what lets you talk to a farmer and an investor in the same meeting.
Handle it in the CRM instead
The reason this stays a problem is that most CRMs store size as a single number with no unit attached. Every conversion then happens on somebody’s phone, and the mistakes reach the client. Next Heights CRM stores the unit with the size, converts exactly between all seven units, and computes the total from a rate automatically — so a seller who quotes in marla and a buyer who thinks in gaj see consistent numbers.
Frequently asked
How many square feet is 1 gaj?
Exactly 9 square feet. One gaj is one square yard, and a yard is three feet, so 3 × 3 = 9.
How many gaj in 1 marla?
30.25 gaj, which is 272.25 square feet.
How many marla in 1 kanal?
Exactly 20 marla. One kanal is 5,445 square feet or 605 gaj, and 8 kanal make an acre.