Chatak: 1 Chatak in Square Feet

1 chatak is 45 sq ft. It is a West Bengal land unit, and 16 chatak make 1 katha of 720 sq ft. In square yards, 1 chatak is exactly 5 sq yd.

What is a chatak?

Chatak (ছটাক, also spelt chhatak or chattak) is the smallest common land unit in West Bengal. It is used mainly for urban plots in Kolkata and other towns, where land is sold in katha and chatak. The West Bengal chain is uniform across the state:

• 1 bigha = 20 katha
• 1 katha = 16 chatak
• 1 bigha = 320 chatak = 14,400 sq ft

The chatak value is commonly used local practice. Registration forms in West Bengal accept area in acre, decimal, bigha, katha, chatak and square feet.

1 chatak in other units

• 1 chatak = 45 sq ft
• 1 chatak = 5 sq yd (gaj)
• 1 chatak = 4.18 sq m
• 1 chatak = 0.1033 decimal (satak)
• 1 decimal = 9.68 chatak
• 1 chatak = 0.0625 katha

Chatak to square feet table

Reading katha and chatak together

Kolkata deeds often state area like "3 katha 8 chatak". To get square feet, change everything to chatak first: 3 x 16 + 8 = 56 chatak. Then multiply by 45: 2,520 sq ft. In decimal that is 5.7851.

Another example: 2 katha 4 chatak = 36 chatak = 1,620 sq ft = 180 sq yd.

Sometimes a third part, square feet, is added: "2 katha 4 chatak 20 sq ft" is 1,640 sq ft.

What plots in katha and chatak look like

• 1 chatak = 45 sq ft, for example a strip of 5 ft by 9 ft.
• 1 katha (16 chatak) = 720 sq ft, for example 24 ft by 30 ft.
• 2 katha (32 chatak) = 1,440 sq ft, for example 36 ft by 40 ft.
• 3 katha (48 chatak) = 2,160 sq ft, for example 40 ft by 54 ft.

Worked example: dividing a plot

Two sisters inherit a plot of 4 katha 6 chatak in Howrah. In chatak that is 4 x 16 + 6 = 70 chatak, or 3,150 sq ft. Each sister gets 35 chatak, which is 2 katha 3 chatak, or 1,575 sq ft. In decimal, each share is 3.6157.

How to convert chatak

1. Chatak to square feet: multiply by 45.
2. Square feet to chatak: divide by 45. Example: 1,000 sq ft = 22.2222 chatak.
3. Chatak to katha: divide by 16. Example: 40 chatak = 2.5 katha.
4. Chatak to decimal: divide by 9.68. Example: 40 chatak = 4.1322 decimal.

Use katha to chatak, katha to square feet or katha to decimal.

Chatak outside West Bengal

The chatak is tied to the West Bengal katha of 720 sq ft. Assam uses a different chain, where 1 katha is 20 lessa of 144 sq ft each, and Bihar splits the katha into 20 dhur. Do not use the chatak with a Bihar or Assam katha. See the West Bengal guide for the full chain.

Practical tips

• The record of rights on Banglarbhumi shows area in acre and decimal. Convert your katha and chatak to decimal to check it.
• One source claims a smaller Kolkata katha, but no other source supports it. The 720 sq ft katha and 45 sq ft chatak are the widely used values.
• For a sale or partition, confirm the area with the amin or local land office and check the land record.