Land measurement in Karnataka is built on the acre and the gunta (ಗುಂಟೆ, also spelt guntha). 1 gunta is 1,089 sq ft and 40 gunta make 1 acre of 43,560 sq ft. Small parts of a gunta are counted in annas. Coastal districts use cents, north Karnataka also uses the kuncham, and city plots are sold in square feet.
Units used in Karnataka
| Unit | Size in sq ft | Chain | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acre (ಎಕರೆ) | 43,560 | 40 gunta = 100 cents | Statewide |
| Gunta | 1,089 | 33 ft by 33 ft; 121 sq yd | Statewide farm and revenue land, very common around Bengaluru |
| Anna | 68.0625 | 16 anna = 1 gunta | Fractions of a gunta on the RTC |
| Cent | 435.6 | 100 cents = 1 acre | Coastal districts such as Dakshina Kannada and Udupi |
| Kuncham | 4,356 | 10 kuncham = 1 acre | North Karnataka districts |
| Ground | 2,400 | 18.15 ground = 1 acre | Some use in south Karnataka |
| Ankanam | 72 | 8 sq yd | Occasional, near the Andhra and Telangana border |
| Hectare | about 107,639.1 | 100 are | RTC metric column, government land |
The gunta, anna, cent, kuncham and ground values are commonly used figures; we did not find a Karnataka government page that states them. The 16 anna rule comes from one general reference.
The chain of units
- 1 acre = 40 gunta
- 1 gunta = 16 anna
- 1 acre = 100 cents, so 1 cent = 0.4 gunta
- 1 hectare = about 2.47 acre = about 98.84 gunta
- 1 gunta = about 101.17 sq m
Sources differ: kuncham and bigha
For north Karnataka, one source gives the kuncham as 4,356 sq ft, so that 10 kuncham make an acre. Another source gives a kuncham of only 484 sq ft for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Karnataka value rests on one source, so confirm it locally. One property site also lists a bigha of 14,400 sq ft for Karnataka, about 13.22 gunta. The bigha is not a usual Karnataka revenue unit, so treat that figure with caution.
Reading the RTC (Pahani)
Land records are on Bhoomi, the Revenue Department's land records system, which issues the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops), also called Pahani. Extents on the RTC are written as acres and guntas, with annas for smaller parts. The RTC often gives hectare and are as well.
Example: an extent of 2 acres 10 guntas is 87,120 + 10,890 = 98,010 sq ft. That is 2.25 acres or about 0.9105 hectare. Do not read 2 acres 10 guntas as 2.10 acres; 10 guntas is a quarter of an acre.
1 acre land in Bangalore: what it holds
An acre is 43,560 sq ft whether it is near Bengaluru or anywhere else. City layouts are sold in square feet, and a common site size is 30 ft by 40 ft, which is 1,200 sq ft. So 1 acre equals 36.3 such sites on paper. In practice, roads and open spaces in a layout take a share of the land, so fewer sites fit. Prices per acre change by location and over time, so check current local rates.
How to measure land
- Measure length and breadth in feet and multiply them.
- Divide by 1,089 for gunta, by 435.6 for cents or by 43,560 for acres.
Example: a plot of 66 ft by 33 ft is 2,178 sq ft, exactly 2 gunta or 32 anna. For uneven plots use the land area calculator.
Common mistakes
- Reading acres and guntas as a decimal. 1 acre 20 guntas is 1.5 acres, not 1.2 acres.
- Mixing gunta and cent. 1 gunta is 2.5 cents.
- Using the Andhra kuncham. A 4,356 sq ft kuncham is 9 times a 484 sq ft kuncham.
For a sale, partition or court matter, confirm the unit with the village accountant or the taluk office and check the RTC on Bhoomi. Our gunta to square feet and acre to gunta converters handle other values.
Questions people ask
What are the land measurement units in Karnataka?
The main units are the acre and the gunta (1,089 sq ft), with 40 gunta in an acre. Annas count parts of a gunta. Cents are used on the coast, kuncham in the north and square feet for city plots.
1 acre land in Bangalore is how many sq ft?
1 acre is 43,560 sq ft, or 40 gunta. That equals 36.3 sites of 30 ft by 40 ft on paper, but roads and open spaces reduce the usable count in a layout.
1 gunta in square feet in Karnataka?
1 gunta is 1,089 sq ft, a square of 33 ft by 33 ft. It is 121 sq yd or about 101.17 sq m.
1 anna in square feet?
Taking 16 anna to a gunta, 1 anna is 68.0625 sq ft. This rule comes from a general reference, so confirm it locally.
How many gunta in 1 hectare?
1 hectare is about 98.84 gunta, or about 2.47 acres. The RTC often shows both acre and gunta and hectare and are.
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.