Marla to Square Feet, Kanal and Square Yards Converter

Marla, kanal and square feet converter

Value FromMarlaKanalSquare feetSquare yardsSquare metresAcre Marla standard1 marla = 272.25 sq ft1 marla = 225 sq ft

An acre is fixed at 43,560 sq ft and a kanal is 20 marla under both standards.

Why a marla isn't always the same size

Two official definitions are in use, and the difference adds up quickly. A "10 marla" plot is 2,722.5 sq ft under one and 2,250 sq ft under the other. That's 472.5 sq ft, roughly the floor area of a large bedroom and lounge combined.

The Peshawar Development Authority's Building Control Regulations 2024 also define 1 marla as 272.25 sq ft and 1 kanal as 5,445 sq ft: PDA Regulations 2024, definitions 104 and 116 (checked October 2026). Many private societies set their own standard in their bylaws, so read the allotment letter or ask the society office. Don't assume.

Marla size table (both standards)

Karachi square yards in marla

Karachi plots are sold in square yards. Here are the sizes that come up most often in Karachi listings:

How to calculate 1 marla by hand

Multiply length by width in feet to get the area, then divide by 272.25 or 225, depending on the standard. Take a 30 × 60 ft plot: 1,800 sq ft comes to about 6.61 marla at 272.25, or exactly 8 marla at 225. This is why one plot can be advertised as two different sizes.

Is 20 marla equal to 1 kanal?

Yes. Both standards above define 1 kanal as 20 marla. What changes is the size of each marla, so a kanal is either 5,445 or 4,500 sq ft. People sometimes call 12 marla a kanal in loose conversation, but that's wrong under both definitions.

How many kanal are in an acre?

Under the 272.25 standard, an acre (43,560 sq ft) is exactly 8 kanal, or 160 marla. Under the 225 standard, the same acre works out to 9.68 kanal.

Common sizes in square feet, at a glance

These come straight from the two definitions above, multiplied out. Use them to check an ad quickly.

Square feet to marla (the reverse)

Divide the square feet by the size of one marla. A 1,200 sq ft house in Rawalpindi is 4.41 marla at 272.25, or 5.33 marla at 225. A 2,000 sq ft plot is 7.35 or 8.89 marla. Round only at the end. Dealers who round early can add or lose a fraction of a marla, and on a costly plot that fraction is real money.

Worked example: comparing two "5 marla" ads

Ad A, in a society that follows 272.25 sq ft, is 5 marla: 1,361.25 sq ft. Ad B, in a society whose bylaws say 225 sq ft, is also 5 marla: 1,125 sq ft. Both ask the same price. Per square foot, Ad B is about 21% more expensive, even though the headline says the same size.

The fix is simple. Convert both to square feet before you compare prices, and ask each society office in writing which marla it uses. The allotment letter or the society's bylaws should state it.

Square metres and acres

One square foot is 0.0929 square metres, so 1 marla at 272.25 is about 25.29 m² and at 225 is about 20.90 m². An acre is fixed at 43,560 sq ft. Under the 272.25 standard that is exactly 8 kanal or 160 marla, which is why agricultural land in Punjab is often quoted in kanal and acres together.

What about Karachi and Sindh?

Karachi listings use square yards, and one square yard is always 9 sq ft. A 120-yard house is 1,080 sq ft whatever standard you pick. That makes Karachi ads easier to compare than marla-based ones. If a Karachi ad gives a size in marla, ask for the yard figure and convert it yourself with the tool above.

Before you sign

• Get the plot dimensions in feet from the society's map, not from the dealer.
• Ask which marla the society uses and keep the answer in writing.
• Check that the society is approved. Our CDA, LDA and RDA guide shows how.
• Find out if it's a file or a plot with possession. See file vs possession.

Looking for land? Browse plots and land or houses for sale. Selling? List your property free and give the size in square feet as well as marla.

Old Lahore and village measures

In older parts of Lahore and in rural Punjab you'll sometimes hear sizes quoted in sarsai or in karam. These are traditional units, and how they're used varies. We haven't found a single official definition we could cite, so we don't convert them here. If an ad or an elder uses one, ask for the size in square feet, then convert it with the tool above.

House plans and covered area

Plot size and covered area aren't the same. A "5 marla house" sits on a 5 marla plot, but the built-up area depends on the society's building rules for setbacks and storeys. If you're comparing houses, ask for the covered area in square feet as well as the plot size. Building rules come from the society or the development authority, so check with them before you plan an extension.