Kanal to Marla & Square Feet Conversion Guide (Punjab, Pakistan, Haryana & J&K)
Confused by 5 Marla ads in Lahore, Islamabad, or Chandigarh? Learn the exact Kanal–Marla–Sq Ft ratios used in revenue records vs housing societies, with formulas, tables, and worked examples.
Convert Kanal to Marla, Sarsai & Sq Ft for Punjab, Haryana & J&K.
Why Kanal and Marla Confuse Property Buyers
Across Pakistan, Indian Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, almost every residential listing is quoted in Marla or Kanal — not Square Feet. A 10 Marla house in DHA Lahore, a 2 Kanal farmhouse outside Multan, and a 5 Marla plot in Chandigarh all use the same unit names, but the absolute size in Square Feet is not always identical.
That single detail is where buyers overpay, sellers underquote, and deeds get disputed. This guide explains the official revenue ratios, the housing-society (DHA / Bahria-style) standard, the full conversion ladder from Sarsai up to Murabba, and how to verify a listing before you pay a token amount.
For instant calculations while you read, use the free Kanal to Marla Converter or the full Punjab Kanaal & Marla Calculator.
The Core Conversion Ladder (Official Revenue Standard)
The traditional cadastral / Patwari system used in Punjab (both India and Pakistan), Haryana, and much of northern Pakistan defines:
These ratios are the ones you will find in most government land records, mutation papers (Intiqal), Fard / Jamabandi extracts, and older village maps. They are also the defaults used by ConverterDock’s Pakistan Land Converter and Punjab Land Measurement Calculator.
The Two Marla Standards You Must Never Mix
1. Official / Revenue Marla — 272.25 Sq Ft
Used in:
2. Housing Society / Modern Urban Marla — 225 Sq Ft
Used in many planned housing schemes (especially in Pakistan), including DHA, Bahria Town, and similar societies where plot sizes are marketed in Marla but calculated on a smaller base:
Important: In both systems, 1 Kanal is always 20 Marla. What changes is how many Square Feet that Marla contains. Always ask the seller (or check the allotment letter / society brochure) which Marla standard applies before comparing price-per-Marla between a rural deed and a society plot.
Exact Formulas (Bookmark These)
Kanal to Marla
Marla to Kanal
Marla to Square Feet (Revenue Standard)
Marla to Square Feet (Society Standard)
Square Feet to Marla (Revenue Standard)
Kanal to Acre
Acre to Kanal
If you also need international metric output (Square Meters / Hectares), convert Square Feet first, then use the Global Land Area Converter.
Worked Examples (Real Buying Scenarios)
Example 1: Convert 2.5 Kanal to Marla and Square Feet (Revenue Standard)
A 2.5 Kanal rural plot is about 13,613 Sq Ft — roughly the size of a large farmhouse lot.
Example 2: A 10 Marla DHA-style Society Plot
Compare that with a 10 Marla revenue deed:
Same “10 Marla” label, but the revenue plot is 472.5 Sq Ft larger (~21% more land). Price-per-Marla comparisons between society and non-society listings are meaningless unless you normalize both to Square Feet.
Example 3: A Builder Quotes 1,800 Sq Ft — How Many Marla?
Revenue standard:
Society standard:
Example 4: Convert 1 Acre Farmland into Kanal and Marla
Example 5: Pakistan Murabba to Kanal
Useful when reading agricultural lease or sale documents in Punjab (Pakistan).
Quick Reference Conversion Tables
Table A — Revenue Standard (1 Marla = 272.25 Sq Ft)
| Unit | Marla | Square Feet | Square Yards (Gaj) | Square Meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sarsai | 0.111 | 30.25 | 3.36 | 2.81 |
| 1 Marla | 1 | 272.25 | 30.25 | 25.29 |
| 5 Marla | 5 | 1,361.25 | 151.25 | 126.46 |
| 10 Marla | 10 | 2,722.50 | 302.50 | 252.93 |
| 1 Kanal (20 Marla) | 20 | 5,445 | 605 | 505.86 |
| 2 Kanal | 40 | 10,890 | 1,210 | 1,011.71 |
| 1 Acre (8 Kanal) | 160 | 43,560 | 4,840 | 4,046.86 |
Table B — Housing Society Standard (1 Marla = 225 Sq Ft)
| Unit | Marla | Square Feet | Square Yards | Square Meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Marla | 1 | 225 | 25 | 20.90 |
| 5 Marla | 5 | 1,125 | 125 | 104.52 |
| 7 Marla | 7 | 1,575 | 175 | 146.32 |
| 10 Marla | 10 | 2,250 | 250 | 209.03 |
| 1 Kanal (20 Marla) | 20 | 4,500 | 500 | 418.06 |
| 2 Kanal | 40 | 9,000 | 1,000 | 836.13 |
Table C — Common Listing Sizes Buyers Search For
| Listing Phrase | Revenue Sq Ft | Society Sq Ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Marla house | 1,361 Sq Ft | 1,125 Sq Ft | Most common starter home size |
| 7 Marla plot | 1,906 Sq Ft | 1,575 Sq Ft | Popular mid-size urban plot |
| 10 Marla house | 2,723 Sq Ft | 2,250 Sq Ft | Large family / dual-unit designs |
| 1 Kanal bungalow | 5,445 Sq Ft | 4,500 Sq Ft | Premium residential |
| 4 Kanal farmhouse | 21,780 Sq Ft | 18,000 Sq Ft | Estate / peri-urban |
How Kanal–Marla Relates to Other South Asian Units
If you are comparing Punjab listings with Bengal, Bihar, or Nepal deeds, convert everything to Square Feet or Acres first:
Quick cross-check:
Buyer Checklist Before You Pay Token Money
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Marla are in 1 Kanal?
Exactly 20 Marla. This ratio is universal in Punjab, Haryana, J&K, and Pakistan — it does not change between the 272.25 and 225 Sq Ft Marla standards.
How many Square Feet are in 1 Kanal?
5,445 Sq Ft on the official revenue standard, or 4,500 Sq Ft on the 225 Sq Ft housing-society Marla standard.
How many Square Feet are in 1 Marla in Pakistan?
Most revenue / Patwari records use 272.25 Sq Ft. Many modern housing societies market Marla at 225 Sq Ft. Always confirm which one your documents use.
How many Kanal make 1 Acre?
8 Kanal = 1 Acre = 160 Marla = 43,560 Sq Ft.
What is a Murabba?
In Pakistan agriculture, 1 Murabba = 25 Acres = 200 Kanal. Convert with the Pakistan Land Converter.
Is Kanaal the same as Kanal?
Yes. Kanaal / Kanal / کنال / कनाल are spelling variants of the same unit.
Can I convert Kanal directly to Square Meters?
Yes. Multiply Kanal by 5,445 to get Sq Ft (revenue), then divide by 10.7639 — or use the Global Land Area Converter for Acre / Hectare / Sq Meter output.