How to use the area converter
- Enter the area in the Value box and choose the unit you have in From.
- Choose the unit you want in To. The table below the answer shows the same area in every unit at once.
- For land measured in marla or kanal, pick the right definition. Two are listed, Marla (225 sq ft) and Marla (272.25 sq ft), and the difference is large enough to matter in a property deal.
The metric and imperial units are exact. The marla and kanal rows follow the two definitions described below, so you can compare both before you agree on a price.
Which marla do you mean?
The marla is a traditional unit used in Pakistan and parts of India for house plots and farmland, and it has two common sizes:
| Unit | 225 sq ft definition | 272.25 sq ft definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 marla | 225 sq ft = 25 sq yd = 20.90 m² | 272.25 sq ft = 30.25 sq yd = 25.29 m² |
| 1 kanal (20 marla) | 4,500 sq ft = 500 sq yd = 418.06 m² | 5,445 sq ft = 605 sq yd = 505.86 m² |
| 1 acre | 193.6 marla = 9.68 kanal | 160 marla = 8 kanal |
The 272.25 sq ft marla comes from the older revenue and land-record system, where one marla is a square of 16.5 feet (a "rod" or "pole") on each side: 16.5 × 16.5 = 272.25. Many modern housing schemes and developers instead sell plots by a 225 sq ft marla (a 9 × 25 ft block), which makes a "10 marla house" smaller than a 10-marla plot in a revenue record.
Neither is "wrong". They are used in different contexts, so always check which definition a deed, a map or a dealer is using. A mismatch of 21% on the same marla count can be the difference between buying the plot you were shown and one that is clearly smaller. The converter labels the second set with an asterisk (marla*, kanal*) so the two never get mixed up.
Conversion factors used
| Unit | Equals in square metres | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Square foot | 0.09290304 m² (exact) | 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly |
| Square yard | 0.83612736 m² (exact) | 9 sq ft; called gaz or square gaz in South Asia |
| Acre | 4,046.8564224 m² (exact) | 43,560 sq ft |
| Hectare | 10,000 m² | 2.4711 acres |
| Square mile | 2,589,988.110336 m² | 640 acres |
| Marla (225 sq ft) | 20.903184 m² | Housing schemes |
| Marla (272.25 sq ft) | 25.29285264 m² | Revenue records |
Worked examples
- 10 marla in square feet (225 sq ft marla): 10 × 225 = 2,250 sq ft. In square metres that is 2,250 × 0.09290304 = 209.03 m², and in square yards it is 250.
- 1 kanal in square metres: 4,500 sq ft × 0.09290304 = 418.06 m² on the 225 definition, or 505.86 m² on the 272.25 definition.
- 1 acre in marla: 43,560 ÷ 272.25 = 160 revenue marla, but 43,560 ÷ 225 = 193.6 scheme marla.
- A 1,200 sq ft flat in square metres: 1,200 × 0.09290304 = 111.48 m².
Formula
result = value × (m² per source unit) ÷ (m² per target unit)
Every unit is first converted to square metres, so the table is always consistent. Because an area unit is the square of a length unit, area factors are the square of the length factor: 1 foot is 0.3048 m, so 1 sq ft is 0.3048² = 0.09290304 m². This is why you cannot reuse a length factor directly. Doubling the sides of a square makes its area four times larger.
Accuracy and limits
Metric and imperial results are exact to the digits shown. Land measures differ by region, and there are other local definitions of the marla, kanal and bigha; the two shown here are the most widely used in Pakistan. For a purchase or a legal description, rely on the measured area in the deed or on a surveyor's report, and use this tool only to compare figures. The US survey foot differs from the international foot by two parts per million and is not used here.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in a marla?
It depends on the definition. Housing schemes commonly use 225 square feet; land records use 272.25 square feet. Check which one applies to your plot before comparing prices.
How many marla make a kanal?
Twenty marla make one kanal in both definitions. That is 4,500 sq ft with a 225 sq ft marla, or 5,445 sq ft with a 272.25 sq ft marla.
How many square feet are in an acre?
An acre is exactly 43,560 square feet, or 4,046.8564 square metres. It is 8 kanal or 160 marla on the 272.25 definition.
Why are area conversions not the same as length conversions?
Area is length squared. A foot is 0.3048 m, so a square foot is 0.3048 × 0.3048 = 0.09290304 m². Multiplying by the length factor alone would give the wrong answer.
What is the difference between a hectare and an acre?
A hectare is 10,000 m² (2.471 acres). An acre is 4,046.86 m² (0.4047 hectares). Hectares are the standard in most countries, while acres are used in the US, UK, Pakistan and India.