Buying land, reading a fard or discussing farmland with relatives involves units that most people learn only by hearing them used: sarsai, marla, kanal, acre, murabba and killa. This guide explains land measurement units in Pakistan, how they relate to each other and how to convert them with our free Marla / Kanal Converter.
The chain of units
| Unit | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 sarsai | 30.25 sq ft (revenue standard) |
| 1 marla | 9 sarsai = 272.25 sq ft (revenue) or 225 sq ft (many societies) |
| 1 kanal | 20 marla |
| 1 acre (killa) | 8 kanal = 160 marla = 43,560 sq ft |
| 1 murabba | 25 acres |
The acre is a fixed international unit of 43,560 sq ft. Marla and kanal sizes depend on which marla standard is used.
Square feet for common sizes
| Size | At 225 sq ft marla | At 272.25 sq ft marla |
|---|---|---|
| 3 marla | 675 sq ft | 816.75 sq ft |
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361.25 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,722.5 sq ft |
| 1 kanal | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| 2 kanal | 9,000 sq ft | 10,890 sq ft |
Square yards and square metres
- 1 square yard = 9 sq ft
- 1 square metre = 10.764 sq ft
Karachi properties are often sold in square yards: a 120 sq yd plot is 1,080 sq ft, and a 240 sq yd plot is 2,160 sq ft.
Killa and acre
In Punjab’s rural areas, “killa” is commonly used for a unit equal to an acre. Large holdings are counted in murabba, 25 acres each.
Urban vs rural use
Cities and housing societies mostly use marla and kanal for plots and square feet for built-up area. Rural land records use kanal, marla and acre according to the revenue standard.
Converting accurately
Always check the marla standard in your documents. Our guide on the 225 vs 272 marla confusion explains why. For single conversions, use Kanal to Marla or Square Feet to Marla, and for farmland in hectares, the Acres to Hectares converter.
Frequently asked questions
How many marla are in a kanal?
20 marla.
How many kanal are in an acre?
8 kanal.
What is a murabba?
A unit of 25 acres used for agricultural land.
How many square feet is a 120 square yard plot?
1,080 sq ft.