1 marla in square feet is 272.25 square feet in the standard system used in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. In parts of Punjab where an older measure survives (Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur), 1 marla is commonly taken as 225 square feet.
Why there are two marla values
A marla is built from a length called the karam. The modern karam is 66 inches, which is 5.5 feet. One square karam (a sarsai) is 5.5 × 5.5 = 30.25 square feet, and 9 sarsai make 1 marla: 30.25 × 9 = 272.25 square feet.
Before land consolidation, some districts used a shorter karam of 60 inches, which is 5 feet. The same steps give 25 × 9 = 225 square feet. That older marla is still heard in some places and in some urban plot sales, so always ask which one a seller means.
Size of one marla by region
| Region | 1 marla in sq ft | In sq m | In square meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu (standard) | 272.25 | 25.2929 | 25.2929 |
| Old measure in parts of Punjab (Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur) | 225 | 20.9032 | 20.9032 |
The marla chain
- 9 sarsai = 1 marla
- 20 marla = 1 kanal = 5,445 square feet
- 8 kanal = 1 acre (killa) = 43,560 square feet
So 1 acre is 160 marla in the standard system.
How to convert marla to square feet
Square feet = marla × 272.25 (standard) or marla × 225 (old measure).
Worked example: a 5 marla house plot in Ludhiana uses the standard value. 5 × 272.25 = 1,361.25 square feet. If the same "5 marla" were counted at the old value, it would be 5 × 225 = 1,125 square feet, a difference of 236.25 square feet.
Popular plot sizes
| Marla | Standard (sq ft) | Old measure (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 272.25 | 225 |
| 2 | 544.5 | 450 |
| 3 | 816.75 | 675 |
| 4 | 1,089 | 900 |
| 5 | 1,361.25 | 1,125 |
| 6 | 1,633.5 | 1,350 |
| 7 | 1,905.75 | 1,575 |
| 8 | 2,178 | 1,800 |
| 10 | 2,722.5 | 2,250 |
| 20 | 5,445 | 4,500 |
Marla to square feet table by region
| Marla | Square feet Standard | Square feet Old Punjab measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 272.25 | 225 |
| 2 | 544.5 | 450 |
| 3 | 816.75 | 675 |
| 4 | 1,089 | 900 |
| 5 | 1,361.25 | 1,125 |
| 6 | 1,633.5 | 1,350 |
| 8 | 2,178 | 1,800 |
| 10 | 2,722.5 | 2,250 |
| 15 | 4,083.75 | 3,375 |
| 20 | 5,445 | 4,500 |
| 25 | 6,806.25 | 5,625 |
| 40 | 10,890 | 9,000 |
| 50 | 13,612.5 | 11,250 |
| 100 | 27,225 | 22,500 |
Regional columns use the most commonly used size in each area. Confirm your local size with the revenue office.
Square feet to marla
Divide by the marla size. One square foot is 0.003673 standard marla or 0.004444 old marla. So 1,000 square feet is 3.67 marla at the standard value, or 4.44 marla at the old value.
What a marla plot looks like
Exact plot shapes help you picture the size. A 5 marla plot at the standard value (1,361.25 sq ft) is, for example, 27.5 ft by 49.5 ft, since 27.5 × 49.5 = 1,361.25. At the old value, 5 marla (1,125 sq ft) is exactly 25 ft by 45 ft, since 25 × 45 = 1,125. A 10 marla standard plot (2,722.5 sq ft) could be 49.5 ft by 55 ft, since 49.5 × 55 = 2,722.5.
Reading records and deals
- Jamabandi records in Punjab and Haryana show area as kanal, marla and sarsai, or in metric units. A figure like "2 kanal 5 marla" means 45 marla in all.
- Convert the whole holding to marla first, then to square feet, to avoid rounding errors.
- Before a sale or partition, ask the patwari which marla the record uses and check the jamabandi.
Related pages: marla to gaj, kanal to square feet and what is a marla.
Questions people ask
5 marla in square feet?
5 marla is 1,361.25 square feet at the standard value. At the old 225 sq ft value it is 1,125 square feet.
10 marla in square feet?
10 marla is 2,722.5 square feet (standard) or 2,250 square feet (old measure). Ten marla is half a kanal.
8 marla and 4 marla in square feet?
8 marla is 2,178 square feet and 4 marla is 1,089 square feet at the standard value. At the old value they are 1,800 and 900 square feet.
1000 square feet in marla?
1,000 square feet is 3.67 marla (standard) or 4.44 marla (old measure).
Which marla value should I use?
Use 272.25 square feet unless the seller or record clearly uses the old measure. In Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur, ask the patwari whether the 225 sq ft marla applies.
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.