Summary & Key Takeaways
- —Land units in India vary by region: 1 Bigha in UP (27,225 sq ft) is over 3x larger than 1 Bigha in Assam (14,400 sq ft).
- —Guntha is standard across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka, representing exactly 1,089 square feet (40 Gunthas = 1 Acre).
- —In Eastern India (West Bengal, Bihar), Katha and Satak/Decimal dominate rural mutation records.
- —Always convert regional units to standard Square Feet or Square Meters before calculating registry stamp duty.
Why Indian Land Measurement Is So Complex
Purchasing agricultural farmland or residential plots in India involves navigating land records that date back to Mughal and British administrative surveys. While modern development authorities (DDA, HUDA, BDA) issue titles in Square Meters or Square Yards, village revenue records (Khasra, Khatauni, Satbara/7/12 extracts) still use localized traditional units.
The biggest trap for property buyers is assuming that a term like "Bigha" or "Katha" has a universal definition. In reality, a Bigha varies dramatically between states and even between adjacent districts.
Regional Breakdown: North, West, East & South
Understanding regional variations is essential for validating sale deeds, partition agreements, and mortgage valuations:
| Region / State | Primary Unit | Equivalent in Sq Ft | Standard Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh (Pucca) | 1 Bigha | 27,225 sq ft | 1 Bigha = 20 Biswa |
| Haryana & Punjab | 1 Bigha | 9,075 sq ft | 1 Acre = 4.8 Bighas (or 8 Kanals) |
| Bihar | 1 Bigha | 27,220 sq ft | 1 Bigha = 20 Katha = 400 Dhur |
| West Bengal | 1 Bigha | 14,400 sq ft | 1 Bigha = 20 Katha = 320 Chatak |
| Assam | 1 Bigha | 14,400 sq ft | 1 Bigha = 5 Katha = 100 Lessa |
| Maharashtra / Gujarat | 1 Guntha | 1,089 sq ft | 40 Gunthas = 1 Acre (43,560 sq ft) |
| Tamil Nadu | 1 Ground | 2,400 sq ft | 1 Ground = 5.51 Cents |
| Andhra / Telangana | 1 Ankanam | 72 sq ft | 1 Cent = 6.05 Ankanams |
Crucial Formulas for Farmland Purchases
When evaluating land records against physical demarcation, use these standard mathematical constants to verify total acreage:
• 1 Acre = 43,560 Square Feet = 4,046.86 Square Meters = 4.0467 Guntas (Ares)
• 1 Hectare = 2.471 Acres = 107,639 Square Feet = 10,000 Square Meters
• 1 Guntha = 1,089 Square Feet = 121 Square Yards (33 ft x 33 ft square)
• 1 Cent = 435.6 Square Feet = 1/100th of an Acre
How to Prevent Boundary Disputes Using God of Tools
Before executing a registry agreement or calculating stamp duty with your sub-registrar office:
1. Open the Indian Land Converter tool on God of Tools.
2. Select your specific state or unit (e.g. Maharashtra Guntha or Bengal Katha).
3. Enter the extract area to obtain exact figures in Square Feet, Square Yards, Acres, and Hectares.
4. Pair your conversion with our Loan EMI Calculator and GST Calculator to budget complete registration expenditure.
Related In-Browser Tools
Zero-upload client-side utilities directly relevant to this guide.
Indian Land Area Converter
Universal converter for Bigha, Katha, Decimal, Guntha, Ground, Cent, Acre, Square Feet across all Indian states and revenue departments.
GST Calculator (India)
Calculate GST Inclusive and Exclusive amounts for standard slabs (0%, 3%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) with CGST, SGST, and IGST breakdowns.
Loan EMI Calculator
Calculate monthly loan EMI, total interest payable, loan amortization schedules with interactive year-by-year and month-by-month tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Gunthas are in one Acre?
There are exactly 40 Gunthas in one standard Acre. Since 1 Guntha is 1,089 sq ft, 40 x 1,089 = 43,560 sq ft, which is exactly one Acre.
What is a Satak or Decimal in West Bengal and Bihar?
A Satak (also called Decimal or Dismil) equals 1/100th of an Acre, or 435.6 square feet. It is commonly used in rural land survey records.
Is 1 Ground in Tamil Nadu the same as 1 Guntha in Karnataka?
No. 1 Ground in Tamil Nadu is 2,400 square feet, whereas 1 Guntha in Karnataka is 1,089 square feet. They are distinct regional standards.