1 kanal in every common unit
| Unit | 225 sq ft marla | 250 sq ft marla | 272.25 sq ft marla |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marla | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Square feet | 4,500 | 5,000 | 5,445 |
| Square yards (gaz) | 500 | 555.56 | 605 |
| Square metres | 418.06 | 464.52 | 505.86 |
| Acre | 0.1033 | 0.1148 | 0.125 (1/8) |
Notice the last row. On the revenue scale, exactly 8 kanal make 1 acre, because 8 × 5,445 = 43,560 sq ft, the size of an acre. That neat fit is a quick way to remember that 5,445 is the traditional value.
Why a kanal has more than one size
The kanal and marla come from the land revenue system used in Punjab for agricultural land. In that system, 1 marla is 9 sarsai, and 1 sarsai is 30.25 square feet, so 1 marla is 272.25 sq ft. Land records, the fard and rural land deals still follow this scale.
Modern housing societies wanted round, easy numbers for planning streets and plots, so many of them define a marla as 225 sq ft. That makes a kanal 4,500 sq ft and gives clean plot sizes such as 25 × 45 ft for 5 marla. Some schemes and some agents work with 250 sq ft. None of these is “wrong”. The problem only starts when two people in the same deal are using different ones.
The gap matters: on the revenue scale a kanal is 945 sq ft bigger than a 4,500 sq ft society kanal. That is more than the area of a typical 4 marla society plot.
Common 1 kanal plot dimensions
Housing societies that use the 225 sq ft marla often lay out 1 kanal plots as 50 × 90 ft, which is exactly 4,500 sq ft. Corner plots, irregular plots and older areas can differ, so treat this only as a common pattern. Your allotment letter or site plan is the final word.
For a half kanal (10 marla), common layouts in the same societies are around 35 × 65 ft, which is 2,275 sq ft, slightly more than the 2,250 sq ft you get from 10 × 225.
Compare prices per square foot, not per kanal
When two plots are both advertised as “1 kanal”, the cheaper one is not always the better deal. Here is a simple example with made-up round numbers:
| Plot A | Plot B | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised as | 1 kanal | 1 kanal |
| Marla size used | 225 sq ft | 272.25 sq ft |
| Actual area | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| Example price | Rs 4.5 crore | Rs 5 crore |
| Price per sq ft | Rs 10,000 | about Rs 9,183 |
Plot B costs more in total but is cheaper per square foot. Location, road width and possession status still matter more, but comparing on a per square foot basis stops the marla size from hiding the real price.
How to confirm the size of your plot
- Read the documents. The allotment letter, transfer letter or registry should state the area, and sometimes the dimensions in feet.
- Ask the society office which marla size it uses, and get it in writing if you are buying.
- Measure on site. Multiply length by width and compare with the documents.
- For land outside societies, check the official land record. In Punjab, land records are maintained by the Punjab Land Records Authority, which works on the revenue scale.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in 1 kanal in DHA or Bahria Town?
Most private housing societies use a 225 sq ft marla, which makes 1 kanal 4,500 sq ft. Confirm the figure with the society, because schemes can differ.
How many marla are in 1 kanal?
Always 20 marla. Only the size of each marla changes.
How many kanal are in 1 acre?
8 kanal on the revenue scale. With a 225 sq ft marla, an acre is about 9.68 kanal.
Is half kanal the same as 10 marla?
Yes. Half a kanal is 10 marla, which is 2,250 sq ft at 225 sq ft per marla or 2,722.5 sq ft on the revenue scale.
How many square yards are in 1 kanal?
500 square yards at 225 sq ft per marla, and 605 square yards on the revenue scale.
Adnan works on SEO, WordPress development and digital marketing, and builds the free tools on Store Online Digital. His guides come from hands-on website and content work.