Decimal (Dismil): 1 Decimal in Gaj and Square Feet

1 decimal is 48.4 gaj (square yards), or 435.6 sq ft. A decimal, also called dismil (डिसमिल), is one hundredth of an acre, so it has the same size everywhere in India.

What is a decimal in land measurement?

The decimal is 1/100 of an acre. It is the main unit for plots in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, and it is common in Chhattisgarh. In Bengali it is called satak or shatak. In the south the same size is called a cent. So decimal, dismil, satak and cent all mean 435.6 sq ft.

Because 100 decimal make 1 acre, land records in these states often write area as acre and decimal. For example, 1 acre 25 decimal is 1.25 acre, or 54,450 sq ft.

1 decimal in other units

• 1 decimal = 435.6 sq ft
• 1 decimal = 48.4 gaj (sq yd)
• 1 decimal = 40.47 sq m
• 1 decimal = 0.01 acre
• 1 hectare = 247.11 decimal
• 1 decimal = 9.68 chatak (West Bengal)

Dismil to gaj table

Decimal and katha

Many families in Bihar and Bengal think in katha but their records show decimal. The link between the two depends on the local katha:

These katha sizes are commonly used local values. Some come from a single source, so check with the amin or circle office. Use the decimal to katha converter for exact figures.

Why decimal is the safest unit

In Bihar the katha changes from district to district, from 1,361.25 sq ft in Patna to 3,267 sq ft in Bettiah. The decimal never changes. If you compare two deeds from different districts, convert both to decimal first. Bihar jamabandi and khatiyan, Jharkhand khatiyan and Odisha RoR all show the area (rakba) in acre and decimal, so you can match your figure directly.

How to convert decimal

1. Decimal to square feet: multiply by 435.6. Example: 5 decimal = 2,178 sq ft.
2. Decimal to gaj: multiply by 48.4. Example: 5 decimal = 242 gaj.
3. Decimal to acre: divide by 100. Example: 35 decimal = 0.35 acre.
4. Square feet to decimal: divide by 435.6. Example: 2,000 sq ft = 4.5914 decimal.

A plot of 30 ft by 50 ft is 1,500 sq ft. Divide by 435.6 and you get 3.4435 decimal. See decimal to square feet and square feet to decimal for more.

Common plot sizes in decimal

Town plots in Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata are often quoted in decimal. Here is what some common sizes mean on the ground:

• A 20 ft by 40 ft plot is 800 sq ft, about 1.84 decimal.
• A 30 ft by 40 ft plot is 1,200 sq ft, about 2.75 decimal.
• A 40 ft by 60 ft plot is 2,400 sq ft, about 5.51 decimal.
• A plot of 66 ft by 33 ft is exactly 5 decimal (2,178 sq ft).

In West Bengal, small urban plots are also measured in chatak. One chatak is 45 sq ft, so 1 decimal is about 9.68 chatak and 1 katha (16 chatak) is about 1.65 decimal. Registration in West Bengal accepts acre, decimal, bigha, katha, chatak and sq ft, so you may see more than one unit on one deed.

Practical tips

• Do not confuse decimal the unit with a decimal point. In records, "0.05 acre" and "5 decimal" are the same area.
• Read the state guides for Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
• For a sale or mutation, confirm the area in the land record and with the local revenue office.