Sq ft, sq yard (gaj), acre and bigha: property area units explained
3 min read · Updated October 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Plot sizes in India come in many units. Mixing them up is an easy way to overpay, so here are the fixed ones, and a warning about the one that is not fixed.
Units that are the same everywhere
- 1 square yard (gaj) = 9 square feet
- 1 square metre = about 10.76 square feet
- 1 acre = 43,560 square feet = 4,840 square yards
- 1 hectare = about 2.47 acres = about 107,639 square feet
Bigha, biswa, katha and guntha
These traditional units change from state to state and sometimes from district to district. A bigha in one place can be double the size of a bigha in another. Always ask the seller for the area in square feet or square yards, or check the figure in the sale deed or the revenue record, and do not rely on a quoted bigha.
Which area is being quoted?
For flats, the price may be quoted on carpet area (the usable floor), built-up area (carpet plus walls) or super built-up area (built-up plus a share of lifts and lobbies). The same flat can be 900, 1,050 or 1,250 square feet depending on which one is used, so always compare the price per square foot on the same basis.
Work out the price per square foot
Divide the total price by the area in square feet. To compare a plot sold per square yard with a flat sold per square foot, divide the plot price per square yard by 9. Our listings let you switch the unit on the screen, and the trends page shows the median price per square foot by city and area.