Land measurement in Tamil Nadu mixes three systems. Villages use cents and acres, where 1 cent is 435.6 sq ft and 100 cents make an acre. Chennai and other cities use the ground of 2,400 sq ft. Patta and Chitta records are reported to show area in hectare, are and square metre. Old Tamil units such as kuzhi, ma, kaani and veli are still heard in the delta and the south.
Land measurement units in Tamil Nadu
| Unit | Tamil | Size in sq ft | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cent | சென்ட் | 435.6 | Statewide, rural and semi urban plots |
| Ground | கிரவுண்ட் | 2,400 | Urban plots, especially Chennai |
| Acre | ஏக்கர் | 43,560 | Statewide |
| Are | about 1,076.39 | Patta and Chitta records | |
| Hectare | ஹெக்டேர் | about 107,639.1 | Patta and Chitta records |
| Kuzhi | குழி | 144 or 145.2 | Traditional, rural; varies by area |
| Ma | மா | 14,400 | Traditional, delta and southern districts |
| Kaani | காணி | 57,600 | Traditional, delta districts |
| Veli | வேலி | 288,000 | Traditional, large paddy holdings in the Cauvery delta |
Cent, acre, are and hectare are fixed units. Ground and the traditional Tamil units are commonly used values; no Tamil Nadu government page we found gives them.
Cent, ground and acre
- 1 acre = 100 cents
- 1 ground = 2,400 sq ft = about 5.51 cents
- 1 acre = 18.15 grounds
- 1 cent = 48.4 sq yd = about 40.47 sq m
- 1 hectare = about 247.11 cents = about 2.47 acres
Traditional Tamil units: sources differ
The old chain, as one reference gives it, runs: 1 veli = 5 kaani, 1 kaani = 4 ma, 1 ma = 100 kuzhi. With a kuzhi of 144 sq ft (a 12 ft square), that makes 1 ma = 14,400 sq ft, 1 kaani = 57,600 sq ft (about 1.32 acres) and 1 veli = 288,000 sq ft (about 6.61 acres).
Other sources give different figures:
- A kuzhi of 145.2 sq ft, said to be used around Madurai. With it, 300 kuzhi make exactly 1 acre, while 302.5 kuzhi of 144 sq ft make an acre.
- A kaani of only 100 kuzhi, about 14,520 sq ft, which is one third of an acre.
- A historical veli of 72,000 sq ft.
Which value applies in which district could not be confirmed. If your papers use these units, confirm the local value before converting.
Official records unit and portal
Records are on Tamil Nadu e-Services of the Revenue Department, which gives Patta and Chitta, the A Register, FMB sketches and Town Survey Land Record extracts. The extent is reported to be in hectare, are and square metre. Many people misread this. An extent shown as 0, 02, 50 means 0 hectare, 2 are and 50 sq m, which is 250 sq m. That is about 2,690.98 sq ft, or about 6.18 cents. It is not 2 acres.
How to measure land
- Measure length and breadth in feet and multiply them.
- Divide by 435.6 for cents, or by 2,400 for grounds.
- Divide by 43,560 for acres.
Example: a plot of 40 ft by 60 ft is 2,400 sq ft. That is exactly 1 ground, or about 5.51 cents. A 30 ft by 40 ft plot is 1,200 sq ft, half a ground or about 2.75 cents. For irregular plots use the land area calculator.
Common mistakes
- Reading Patta extent as acres. The figures are hectare, are and square metre.
- Treating a cent as a ground. A ground is about 5.51 times a cent.
- Using one kuzhi or kaani for every district. These vary. Always confirm the local size.
For a sale, partition or court matter, confirm the unit with the village administrative officer or the taluk office and check the Patta and Chitta on Tamil Nadu e-Services. Our cent to square feet and ground to square feet pages handle other values.
Questions people ask
What are the land measurement units in Tamil?
Common units are cent (435.6 sq ft), ground (2,400 sq ft) and acre (43,560 sq ft). Records use hectare, are and square metre. Traditional units are kuzhi, ma, kaani and veli, which vary by area.
1 ground in cents in Tamil Nadu?
1 ground is 2,400 sq ft, which is about 5.51 cents. 1 acre is 18.15 grounds.
1 kuzhi in square feet?
One common value is 144 sq ft, a 12 ft by 12 ft square. Another value of 145.2 sq ft is used in some areas such as Madurai. Confirm which one your area uses.
How many cents in 1 hectare?
1 hectare is about 247.11 cents, or about 2.47 acres. 1 are is about 2.47 cents.
How do I read the extent on a Patta?
The Patta shows hectare, are and square metre. For example, 0 hectare 2 are 50 sq m is 250 sq m, or about 2,690.98 sq ft. Divide square feet by 435.6 to get cents.
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.