A marla is the traditional unit of land area used across Pakistan — the revenue marla is 272.25 square feet. Twenty marla make one kanal (5,445 ft²), and eight kanal make one acre (43,560 ft²). Gaj is simply the square yard (9 ft²), used for plots and houses. Note that many housing societies use a smaller 225 ft² marla instead of the 272.25 ft² revenue marla.
Key takeaways
- 1 marla = 272.25 ft² (revenue); many societies use 225 ft².
- 1 kanal = 20 marla = 5,445 ft²; 8 kanal = 1 acre.
- 1 gaj = 1 sq yard = 9 ft² exactly.
- 1 acre = 43,560 ft² ≈ 4,047 m².
- Confirm which marla applies — society vs revenue records.
How land area conversion works
Every land unit can be expressed as a number of square feet. To convert, the tool turns your value into square feet using the "from" unit's factor, then divides by the "to" unit's factor to get the answer. This is why a single square-foot factor table is enough to convert any unit into any other.
For example, the marla factor is 272.25 and the gaj factor is 9, so converting marla to gaj is just 272.25 ÷ 9 = 30.25 gaj per marla.
Worked example: 5 marla to square feet and gaj
A common residential plot in Lahore or Islamabad is 5 marla. Multiply by the marla factor: 5 × 272.25 = 1,361.25 square feet. To get gaj, divide by 9: 1,361.25 ÷ 9 = 151.25 gaj. In metric, divide the square feet by 10.7639: 1,361.25 ÷ 10.7639 ≈ 126.5 m². That same plot is 0.25 kanal (5 ÷ 20) and about 0.031 acre.
Marla, gaj, square feet & square metre reference
| Unit | Square feet | Gaj (sq yd) | Square metres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gaj (sq yard) | 9 | 1 | 0.836 |
| 1 square metre | 10.764 | 1.196 | 1 |
| 1 marla (DHA / society) | 225 | 25 | 20.9 |
| 1 marla (revenue) | 272.25 | 30.25 | 25.29 |
| 1 kanal | 5,445 | 605 | 505.9 |
| 1 acre | 43,560 | 4,840 | 4,046.86 |
The kanal and acre figures use the 272.25 ft² revenue marla (20 marla = 1 kanal, 8 kanal = 1 acre).
Which unit is used where in Pakistan?
Marla and kanal dominate land measurement across Pakistan — in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad alike. Gaj (square yard) is common for plots and houses, especially in Karachi where plot sizes are often quoted in square yards. The key thing to confirm is which marla applies: government revenue records use the 272.25 ft² marla, while many private housing societies such as DHA and Bahria Town use a 225 ft² marla. Because the two differ, always pair the plot with the marla its paperwork uses. For your build, size materials with the concrete and brick calculators, and check buildable area with the FAR / FSI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is 1 marla?
The traditional (revenue) marla used in Punjab is 272.25 square feet, which equals 30.25 square yards (gaj) or about 25.29 square metres. Many housing societies such as DHA use a smaller 225 sq ft marla, so always confirm the figure for your area.
How many marla are in one kanal?
One kanal is 20 marla, which is 5,445 square feet (20 × 272.25). Eight kanal make one acre.
What is gaj and how does it relate to square feet?
Gaj is the local word for a square yard. One gaj equals 9 square feet exactly, because one yard is three feet and 3 × 3 = 9.
Why does the size of a marla vary?
There are two marla sizes in common use. The traditional revenue marla is 272.25 sq ft, but many modern housing societies (for example DHA) use a smaller 225 sq ft marla. Always confirm which marla your plot is measured in against the society or local revenue records.
How many square feet is 1 acre?
One acre is exactly 43,560 square feet, which is 8 kanal or 160 marla, and about 4,047 square metres.
Is this converter accurate for legal records?
It is accurate for the standard factors shown, but the marla varies by area (272.25 sq ft revenue vs 225 sq ft in many societies). Use it for quick estimates, and always confirm the legal area of a plot against your local revenue or land-records office.
Conversions for exact units are mathematical: 1 acre = 43,560 ft² is a defined value and 1 gaj (sq yard) = 9 ft². Traditional-unit factors (marla 272.25 ft², kanal 5,445 ft²) follow the Punjab revenue standard. The marla is not universal — many housing societies use a 225 ft² marla, so confirm the figure that applies to your plot.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14