Marla, Kanal and Square Feet: Land Units in Pakistan Explained
XUtilHub Team ·
"5 marla house for sale", "1 kanal plot in phase 6": in Pakistan, land is measured in marla and kanal, not square feet or metres. The confusing part is that a marla isn't always the same size. Here's what you need to know before buying, selling or building.
The basic units
| Unit | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 marla | 225 or 272.25 sq ft (see below) |
| 1 kanal | 20 marla |
| 1 acre | 8 kanal = 160 marla |
| 1 square yard (gaz) | 9 sq ft |
Why there are two marla sizes
272.25 sq ft (traditional / revenue marla). This comes from the British-era revenue system, where 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) is divided into 160 marla. Land records and agricultural land generally use it.
225 sq ft. Many housing societies and development authorities, including DHA and Bahria Town, use a 225 sq ft marla for residential plots. That makes their "kanal" 4,500 sq ft instead of 5,445 sq ft.
In some cities and societies you'll also hear of a 250 sq ft marla. Always check which definition the seller, society or document uses.
The difference adds up
| Plot | With 225 sq ft marla | With 272.25 sq ft marla |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,723 sq ft |
| 1 kanal | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| 2 kanal | 9,000 sq ft | 10,890 sq ft |
A "1 kanal" plot can be almost 1,000 sq ft smaller depending on the definition, roughly the size of a whole 5 marla plot in some societies.
Common plot dimensions
| Plot | Typical dimensions |
|---|---|
| 5 marla | 25 × 45 ft |
| 10 marla | 35 × 65 ft |
| 1 kanal | 50 × 90 ft |
These are typical society sizes based on a 225 sq ft marla. Actual dimensions vary.
Other units you'll meet
- Sarsai: 1/9 of a marla (about 30.25 sq ft on the 272.25 system).
- Square yards (gaz): used widely in Karachi and Sindh. A 120-gaz plot is 1,080 sq ft.
- Bigha: used in Punjab, Sindh, India and Bangladesh, and its size varies by region.
Before you buy
- Ask which marla size the price is based on.
- Get the plot's actual dimensions in feet.
- Check the land record or society allotment letter.
- Compare prices per square foot, not just per marla.
Convert any size
The land area converter converts between marla (with your choice of size), kanal, acre, square feet, square metres, square yards and bigha, so you can compare plots fairly.