Chatak to katha: 16 chatak = 1 katha, so 1 chatak is 0.0625 katha. This is for the West Bengal katha of 720 sq ft. The same katha size is reported in Ranchi and in the Barak valley of Assam. One chatak (ছটাক, छटाक) is 45 sq ft.
The Bengal chain
West Bengal land is measured in one tidy chain, the same across the state:
- 1 bigha = 20 katha = 14,400 sq ft
- 1 katha = 16 chatak = 720 sq ft
- 1 chatak = 45 sq ft = 5 gaj
So one bigha is 320 chatak. Chatak is used mostly for small urban plots, for example in Kolkata, where a house plot may be 2 katha 8 chatak.
Katha and chatak together
Deeds and brokers usually give a mix such as "1 katha 4 chatak". To convert, turn the katha into chatak (multiply by 16), add the chatak, then multiply by 45 for square feet.
Example: 1 katha 8 chatak = 16 + 8 = 24 chatak. 24 × 45 = 1,080 sq ft, which is 2.4793 decimal.
| Area | Total chatak | Square feet | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 katha 8 chatak | 8 | 360 | 0.8264 |
| 1 katha 0 chatak | 16 | 720 | 1.6529 |
| 1 katha 4 chatak | 20 | 900 | 2.0661 |
| 1 katha 6 chatak | 22 | 990 | 2.2727 |
| 1 katha 8 chatak | 24 | 1,080 | 2.4793 |
| 1 katha 12 chatak | 28 | 1,260 | 2.8926 |
| 2 katha 0 chatak | 32 | 1,440 | 3.3058 |
| 2 katha 8 chatak | 40 | 1,800 | 4.1322 |
| 3 katha 0 chatak | 48 | 2,160 | 4.9587 |
Chatak to katha
Katha = chatak ÷ 16
| Chatak | Katha |
|---|---|
| 4 chatak | 0.25 |
| 6 chatak | 0.375 |
| 8 chatak | 0.5 |
| 10 chatak | 0.625 |
| 12 chatak | 0.75 |
| 16 chatak | 1 |
| 20 chatak | 1.25 |
| 24 chatak | 1.5 |
| 32 chatak | 2 |
Katha to chatak table
| Katha | Chatak |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16 |
| 2 | 32 |
| 3 | 48 |
| 4 | 64 |
| 5 | 80 |
| 6 | 96 |
| 8 | 128 |
| 10 | 160 |
| 15 | 240 |
| 20 | 320 |
| 25 | 400 |
| 40 | 640 |
| 50 | 800 |
| 100 | 1,600 |
Only the Bengal katha has 16 chatak
The katha is a regional unit, and the chatak belongs only to the 720 sq ft katha. Other kathas split differently. In the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, the katha is 2,880 sq ft and divides into 20 lessa. In Bihar, the katha divides into 20 dhur, and its size depends on the district. Do not use 16 chatak for those kathas.
Size of one katha by region
| Region | 1 katha in sq ft | In sq m | In chatak |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal, Jharkhand (Ranchi), Assam (Barak valley) | 720 | 66.8902 | 16 |
| Bihar: Patna and Arrah | 1,361.25 | 126.4643 | 30.25 |
| Assam (Brahmaputra valley) | 2,880 | 267.5608 | 64 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 600 | 55.7418 | 13.3333 |
| Bihar: Chhapra; Jharkhand: Palamu | 1,742.4 | 161.8743 | 38.72 |
| Bihar: Hajipur and Muzaffarpur | 1,901.25 | 176.6319 | 42.25 |
| Bihar: Siwan | 1,520 | 141.2126 | 33.7778 |
| Bihar: Bettiah (West Champaran) | 3,267 | 303.5142 | 72.6 |
One source claims a smaller katha for Kolkata, but its own chatak figures do not match and no other source supports it, so we use 720 sq ft. These West Bengal values are commonly used local figures, not taken from a government notification.
Tips
- The khatian on Banglarbhumi records area in acre and decimal. Use the decimal column in the table above to match a deed in katha and chatak.
- 1 decimal is about 9.68 chatak, so a few chatak make a real difference on a small plot.
- For a sale, mutation or partition, confirm the measurement with the local block land office and the record of rights.
Questions people ask
How many chatak in 1 katha?
There are 16 chatak in 1 katha in West Bengal. Each chatak is 45 sq ft, so the katha is 720 sq ft.
1 katha 4 chatak in square feet?
1 katha 4 chatak is 20 chatak, which is 900 sq ft or 2.0661 decimal.
1 katha 8 chatak in decimal?
1 katha 8 chatak is 1,080 sq ft, which is 2.4793 decimal.
1 katha 6 chatak in square feet?
1 katha 6 chatak is 22 chatak, which is 990 sq ft or 2.2727 decimal.
1 chatak to katha?
1 chatak is 0.0625 katha, which is one sixteenth of a katha.
Local units can differ inside a state. Before a sale, partition or court filing, confirm the unit with your tehsil, circle or revenue office and check the land record. How we check our numbers.