Understanding land measurement units in Pakistan is very significant for purchasing, selling, or planning property. If you are buying a house, farmland for sale, or beginning construction, knowing these units helps you make accurate decisions and avoid losses.
Still, many people get confused by terms like Marla, Kanal, and Bigha conversions and how they relate to square feet, square yards, or acres. This confusion frequently leads to blunders in property deals or farming plans.
This blog will explain the most common land units in Pakistan: Marla, Kanal, Acre, and Bigha in simple words so you can effortlessly use them in real estate and agriculture.
What Are Land Measurement Units?
Land measurement units are fixed techniques of measuring land size. They create purchasing, selling, and planning property stress-free because everybody uses the same standard. Without them, there would be a lot of misunderstanding about who owns what.
These units support setting boundaries, knowing land value, and planning construction or farming. In Pakistan, common units are Marla, Kanal, Bigha, and Acre.
At the same time, in cities, people typically use square feet and square yards. These standards make land deals clear and fair.
Standardized Plot Sizes in Pakistan
In Pakistan, housing authorities and creators use fixed plot sizes to make property dealings simple and clear. These sizes are common in both cities and villages for easy planning and fair pricing. The most used plot sizes are:
- 3 Marla
- 5 Marla
- 7 Marla
- 8 Marla
- 10 marla & 1 kanal etc
Famous housing societies like Bahria Town and DHA follow these standard dimensions when creating residential and commercial plots.
Using fixed sizes supports smooth purchasing and selling, better road planning, and the correct use of land. It also makes real estate dealings more organized and reliable.
Marla: The Most Common Unit
Marla is one of the most common techniques for sizing land in Pakistan. It started in British rule for stress-free land management. Even today, it is commonly used, but its size is not the same all over, which often causes misperception.
Size of a Marla:
- 272.25 sq. ft. in villages and rural Punjab
- 225 sq. ft. in cities like Lahore (LDA schemes)
- 250 sq. ft. in Islamabad
Regional Differences:
| City | Standard for 1 Marla | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore | 225 sq. ft. | Commonly used in most housing societies |
| Islamabad | 272 sq. ft. | Widely accepted measurement |
| Karachi | Not commonly used | People prefer square yards instead |
Marla is typically used for houses, small farms, and property sales. The 5 Marla plot is the most common size in housing schemes.
Kanal: A Larger Unit
A Kanal is a large land measurement unit in Pakistan, typically used for houses, farmhouses, and agricultural land.
Standard Size of a Kanal
- 1 Kanal = 20 Marlas
- 1 Kanal = 4,500 square feet (in Lahore's urban areas)
- 1 Kanal = 5,445 square feet (in rural Punjab and Islamabad
Regional Differences:
| City | Standard for 1 Kanal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | 5,445 sq. ft. | CDA standard |
| Lahore | 4,500 sq. ft. | Used in societies |
| Karachi | Not standardized | Square yards used |
| Peshawar | 5,445 sq. ft. | Govt standard |
| Multan | 4,500–5,445 sq. ft. | Mixed practice |
| Rawalpindi | 5,445 sq. ft. | Same as CDA |
| Faisalabad | 4,500 sq. ft. | Common in societies |
| Rural areas | 5,445 sq. ft. | Traditional size |
People use Kanal to measure great plots, farmhouses, and agricultural land. It is very common in real estate and property dealings.
Acre: Widely Used for Farmland and Large Properties
An Acre is one of the most common land units in Pakistan, especially when it comes to farmland and agricultural property. It is also sometimes used in commercial projects where the land spans large areas.
Standard Size of an Acre
- 1 Acre = 43,560 sq. ft.
- 1 Acre = 4,840 sq. yards
- 1 Acre = 0.405 hectares
In rural areas of Punjab and Sindh, people use Acre measurements when dealing with farmland, orchards, and large agricultural plots. Knowing this unit is critical for investors and farmers to avoid being overcharged or underpaid.
Bigha and Biswa: Traditional Units in Villages
In many villages of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Bigha is still a traditional unit of measurement. While modern societies rely on Marla or Kanal, farmers often calculate their land in Bighas.
Standard Sizes (can vary slightly by region):
- 1 Bigha = 20 Biswas = 1,008 sq. yards
- 1 Biswa = 50 sq. yards
Bigha is not commonly used in cities anymore, but it's still relevant for agricultural land and ancestral property in villages.
Murabba: Large-Scale Agricultural Unit
Another traditional unit is the Murabba, which is widely used in Punjab’s agriculture.
- 1 Murabba = 25 Acres
- 1 Murabba = 1,210,000 sq. ft. (approx)
Farmers, landowners, and revenue records often use Murabba to measure large chunks of agricultural land. While it is not used in real estate housing societies, it is still highly important in Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Quick Conversion Table for Reference
Here’s a simple chart you can use to convert major land units in Pakistan:
| Unit | Square Feet | Square Yards | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sarsai | 30.25 | 3.36 | – | Traditional rural unit (Punjab) |
| 1 Marla | 225–272 | 25–30 | 0.006 | Size varies by city |
| 1 Kanal | 4,500–5,445 | 500–605 | 0.11 | 20 Marlas = 1 Kanal |
| 1 Killa | 43,560 | 4,840 | 1 | Equal to 1 Acre; used in Punjab villages |
| 1 Acre | 43,560 | 4,840 | 1 | Standard for agriculture and large land |
| 1 Bigha | 9,072 | 1,008 | 0.21 | Traditional village unit (Punjab & KPK) |
| 1 Murabba | 1,210,000 | 133,100 | 25 | Large-scale farming block; 25 Acres or 200 Kanals |
Why Do These Differences Matter in Real Estate?
Many people assume Marla, Kanal, or Acre mean the same everywhere. But even small differences in unit size can cause big financial impacts:
-
Price variations: A Kanal in Islamabad is larger than a Kanal in Lahore (4,500 sq. ft.). This means two 1 Kanal plots can have a price difference of thousands of rupees.
-
Construction planning: A house planned for 5,445 sq. ft. won’t fit properly if the actual plot is 4,500 sq. ft.
-
Legal clarity: Disputes over registry and ownership often arise because parties use different unit standards.
By understanding these variations, buyers and sellers can avoid losses and disputes.
Digital Tools for Measuring Land in Pakistan
With technology, land measurement has become easier and more reliable:
-
Google Maps Area Tool – You can draw boundaries of your plot on Google Maps to get its exact area in sq. ft. or sq. meters.
-
Surveying Equipment (GPS/GNSS) – Professional surveyors now use GPS tools to calculate accurate boundaries and area.
-
Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) – Through E-Arzi Centers, landowners can access verified digital records.
-
GIS & Cadastral Mapping – Used by government agencies to create geo-tagged maps of land parcels.
This digital shift ensures transparent property transactions and reduces fraud in Pakistan’s real estate sector.
Final Thoughts
Land measurement in Pakistan is not just about numbers—it directly impacts property value, fairness in transactions, and construction planning. From Marla to Kanal, Acre to Murabba, and Sarsai to Killa, every unit has its own importance.
Whether you’re buying a 5 Marla plot in Lahore, calculating farmland in Acres, or checking registry records in Murabba, having this knowledge protects your money and avoids disputes.
By using conversion charts, digital tools, and official authority standards, you can confidently manage property deals anywhere in Pakistan.
FAQs on Land Measurement in Pakistan
Q1: How many Marla in one Kanal?
Always 20 Marlas, though size varies by region.
Q2: How many Kanals in one Murabba?
1 Murabba = 200 Kanals.
Q3: How many Acres in one Murabba?
1 Murabba = 25 Acres.
Q4: How many Marla in one Acre?
1 Acre = 160 Marlas.
Q5: What is the size of 5 Marla plot in feet?
In Lahore: 1,125 sq. ft. | In Islamabad: 1,360 sq. ft.
Q6: How many Kanal in one Killa?
1 Killa = 8 Kanals.
Q7: How many Sarsai in one Marla?
1 Marla = 9 Sarsai.