Reviewed by Er. Inderjit Sharma (Retd.), Punjab PWD
Why this matters: In Punjab, Haryana and nearby states, land is measured in Acre (Killa), Kanal and Marla. Engineers, students and revenue staff convert these to square feet all the time, for plot sizes, estimates and land records.
In this post we work out from scratch how big 1 Acre, 1 Kanal and 1 Marla are in square feet, starting from one basic unit: the Karam.
Start Here: What is a Karam?
A Karam (also called a Gattha) is the basic unit of length used in revenue records.
Every other unit below is built from the Karam.
Step 1: Area of 1 Acre
One Acre is a piece of land 40 Karam long and 36 Karam wide. Convert both sides to feet, then multiply:
Width = 36 Karam × 5.5 = 198 ft
Area = 220 × 198 = 43,560 sq ft
Step 2: Area of 1 Kanal
1 Acre = 8 Kanal, so divide the Acre by 8:
Step 3: Area of 1 Marla
1 Kanal = 20 Marla, so divide the Kanal by 20:
This is called the Big Marla (or Revenue Marla). It is used in revenue records and in villages.
Big Marla vs Small Marla
Big Marla (Revenue)
272.25 sq ft
Used in revenue records, jamabandi and rural land. 1 Kanal = 20 Big Marla = 5,445 sq ft.
Small Marla (Urban)
225 sq ft (commonly)
Often used for plots in towns and colonies. Its value can differ between authorities, so always check the local rule.
The Unit Ladder at a Glance
Think of the units as a ladder. Each step down splits the land into smaller pieces:
Conversion Table
| Unit | Equal to | Square feet | Square metres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Acre (Killa) | 8 Kanal = 160 Marla | 43,560 | 4,046.86 |
| 1 Kanal | 20 Marla | 5,445 | 505.86 |
| 1 Marla (Big) | 9 Sarsahi | 272.25 | 25.29 |
| 1 Sarsahi | 1 square Karam | 30.25 | 2.81 |
Length unit: 1 Karam = 5 ft 6 inch = 5.5 ft = 1.676 m.
How Big Is It in Real Life?
🏠 1 Marla
About 16.5 ft × 16.5 ft, roughly the size of a large bedroom.
🎾 1 Kanal
About the size of two tennis courts placed side by side.
⚽ 1 Acre
A little more than half a football field.
Worked Example
Question: A plot is 2 Kanal 5 Marla. What is its area in square feet?
5 Marla = 5 × 272.25 = 1,361.25 sq ft
Total = 10,890 + 1,361.25 = 12,251.25 sq ft
Try It: Quick Converter
Key Takeaways
- 1 Karam = 5.5 ft
- 1 Acre = 40 × 36 Karam = 220 ft × 198 ft = 43,560 sq ft
- 1 Kanal = Acre ÷ 8 = 5,445 sq ft
- 1 Marla (Big) = Kanal ÷ 20 = 272.25 sq ft
- Small (urban) Marla is commonly 225 sq ft, so check which one is meant.
References: Standard land measurement units used in Punjab revenue records (Karam, Marla, Kanal, Acre); 1 Acre = 4,046.86 m² (international definition).