Indian Real Estate

Bigha: Popular unit of measurement in India.


17, January 2026

Today we are gonna talk about Land Measurements In India.

The units for the measurement of the land in India vary from state to state. Measurements like Bigha, Kattha, Biswa, Marla, Kanal, and others are used in North India, while Cent, Ankanam, Ground, and Guntha are used in South India.

Popular land measurement units are Kattha, Chatak, Dhur, and Lecha in the Eastern region of Indian states such as West Bengal, Assam, and seven sister states of India. Extremely common in western Indian states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat are units like Bigha, Biswa, and Biswansi.

What is Bigha?

A traditional and classic unit of land measurement used in India's northern part and eastern regions is called Bigha. Bigha is formerly known by the name beegah. The unit's value keeps changing from one region to another as it is not a standard unit.

It is one of the traditional units of measurement used all over the northern part of India, such as - Assam, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and so on. One Bigha is approximately 27,000 square feet. But the main thing to be noted is that the conversion of Bigha can be changed according to the varying states in India.

It has a standard use across northern parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh or in critical areas where India's migration. Interestingly, in all these places, there was no standard understanding of the terms.

The North Indian farmers generally use it to measure agricultural lands and sell or purchase them. If the farmer wants to sell his agricultural property in Bigha units to the regional brokers, they would want it in a Kanal unit.

The conversion of Bigha to Kanal needs to be done. Bigha's values change from time to time as follows:

  • In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 968 square yards is equal to 1 Bigha.

  • One Pucca Bigha is equal to 3025 square yards in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and a few other parts of North India.

In some parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, 1008.33 square yards is equal to 1 Kachha Bigha.

  • You must be acquainted with the fact that one-third of Pucca Bigha is equal to one Kuchha Bigha.

  • In Bihar and Rajasthan, a few parts follow- 3025 square yards is equal to one Pucca Bigha.

  • 1 Bigha in other parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan is equal to 1936 sq. yards.

  • Bigha has subunits which are called Biswa and Kattha. These units also do not have any traditional value.

  • While Kattha is used in the country's eastern states, Biswa is used in the northern region.

What is Kanal?

In North Indian states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir's union territories, Kanal is used as an old measurement unit.

Along with Marla, Kanal was considered as a standard land measurement unit under British rule. Kanal is also a popular measuring unit in the north-eastern regions of Pakistan.

One Kanal is equal to one-eighth of an acre, making it easy to convert Kanal into an acre. You must also know that 1 Kanal is equivalent to 605 sq. yards as well as 505.85 sq. mt. to convert Kanal into a square meter or square yards.

  • 1 Hecter is equal to 19.77 Kanal.

  • 1 Acre is equivalent to 8 Kanal

  • 0.00018 Kanal is equal to 1 square foot.

  • 0.00198 Kanal is equivalent to 1 square meter.

  • 0.00165 Kanal is equal to 1 square yard.

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Bigha into Kanal Conversion:

The values of Kanal along with Bigha keep changing from state to state, though Kanal was a standard unit under British rule. The process of converting Bigha to Kanal can be a headache.

  • In Gujarat, 1 Bigha is the same as 3.2 Kanal.

  • 1 Bigha is equal to 2 Kanal, in Haryana and Punjab.

  • In Jammu and Kashmir, 1 Bigha is equivalent to 5 Kanal.

  • In Uttar Pradesh, 1 Bigha is equal to 4.9587 Kanal.

  • 1 Bigha is equal to 5 Kanal units in Odisha, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

  • In Bihar, 1 Bigha is equal to 4.99 Kanal units.

  • In Madhya Pradesh, 1 Bigha is the same as that of 2.20 Kanal units.

  • 1 Bigha is equivalent to 2.644 Kanal units in West Bengal.

  • In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 1 Bigha is equivalent to 1.6 Kanal.

  • If you have 20 Bigha of agricultural land and are willing to convert it into a Kanal unit, you need to multiply the total land area by the number 5.

From this, you can understand that the value of Kanal is not the same for all the states. If you have the same 10 Bigha land in Punjab, then the area measurement equals 10×2 = 20 Kanal units.

As to determine the value manually, it becomes difficult for even experienced brokers in the field. The quickest and easiest way to calculate this is by using an online calculator.

You can first select the area you want to sell or purchase land and convert it to the required measurement unit.

Further, you can enter the total area of the land along with the measuring unit. Then you have to select the unit of measurement you want to convert it. The result will be displayed automatically on the screen. This calculation is accurate and error-free.

If you are calculating manually, you must round off some values. It will not make a significant difference, but still, it's not accurate and is time-consuming. Also, there are chances of coming across many errors.

Bigha to Sq Ft Conversion:

As mentioned above, the conversion of Bigha can vary according to different States of India. Follow the bellow chart to know the conversion of Bigha to sq. ft. varying according to the states of India:

Unit State Conversion
1 Bigha

Madhya Pradesh

12000

Himachal Pradesh

8712

Assam

14400

Uttar Pradesh

27000

Rajasthan

27255

Steps to Measure Land Area

  • For resale homes, the home's description or data may also be included in the location and Sale Deed. The number of plots and size may be determined from the sketch for the layout.

  • The property area is listed in terms of Hectares or Acres when the property is agricultural land.

  • The area is generally provided in the form of Square Feet for the residential houses.

  • It would be best to calculate the width and length of the required land to derive the land area.

Other land measurement units

Our country has a significant geographic diversity and a vast population among most countries, which has resulted in several regional units. The most standard and shared among them are -

  • Hectare: It is one of the most common non-SI units of the metric system used to measure vast plots of land. Ares and Hectares were introduced to the metric system in the year 1795. After the system's rationalization took place in early 1960, the International System of Units did not recognize an Area as a primary land measurement unit. So an old plot of land measured in terms of Ares had to be converted. 1 Ares/Are to Kanal is equal to 0.197684 Kanal.

  • Acre: It is an old land measurement unit used to measure extensive agricultural lands from the classic era of time. It is used in an imperial system of units and the United States system. One acre is equivalent to 43560 Square Feet.

  • Square Yards: It is used in fewer parts of India but is also used globally. The breadth and length of a plot measuring 1 yard each is equivalent to 1 Square Yard area.

  • Square Feet: Approved under the RERA Act, this particular unit is considered a standard for measuring residential or commercial property. The length and breadth of a plot are equal to one foot and have an area of 1 square foot. Thus, to sell small plots of land to North India's regional brokers, one must have to convert Square Feet to Kanal.

  • Square Meter: This is also one of the standard land measurement units, it is usually avoided while measuring only length, and breadth. A plot of land with 1 meter of length and breadth has an area of 1 square meter.

Challenges and Initiatives (2024):

  • Inconsistency Across States: Bigha's variation between Indian states has long been a source of concern. In 2024, this discrepancy persists, causing uncertainty and demanding conversions during land sales. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, a single Bigha could be equivalent to 1.67 acres, whereas in Haryana, it could be as small as 1.33 acres. This lack of standardization across state borders can cause misunderstandings and errors, especially for people unfamiliar with the unique conversion rates required in a given location. This emphasizes the continuous need for a standardized system of land measurement across India.

  • Government Initiatives: The Government of India maintains a commitment to broad use of the metric standard for land measurement by 2024. This dedication is evident in a variety of projects, including public awareness campaigns to educate individuals about the benefits of the metric system. Furthermore, they actively encourage the preservation of official land records in meters, enabling an easier transition to a consistent national system.

The Future of Bigha:

It is difficult to keep track of Bigha's initiatives. However, experts predicts:

  • Gradual Decline: The Government of India maintains a commitment to broad use of the metric standard for land measurement by 2024. This dedication is evident in a variety of projects, including public awareness campaigns to educate individuals about the benefits of the metric system. Furthermore, they actively encourage the preservation of official land records in meters, enabling an easier transition to a consistent national system.

  • Persistence in Rural Areas: Two key aspects contribute to Bigha's continued use in rural areas through 2024: familiarity and tradition. Generations of farmers and landowners have used Bigha to measure their property, establishing a deep understanding and ease of usage among these communities. Furthermore, Bigha is frequently embedded in local agricultural practices and property records, making it a culturally significant unit of measurement among rural people.

Read the blog to learn more about Standard measurement units in India.

Hopefully, this shall help you know all about Bigha, the unit of measurement of land in India.

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Gunta - Land Measurement Unit in South India

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