To convert square feet to cent, divide by 435.6: 1 square foot = 0.002296 cent, because 1 cent is 435.6 square feet. A 2,400 sq ft plot is therefore 5.5096 cent.
When you need this conversion
House plans, building approvals and most builders speak in square feet. Land in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is often bought and sold in cents. So you keep moving between the two: "my plan needs 1,800 sq ft of land, how many cents is that?"
The method
Cents = square feet ÷ 435.6
Worked example: you want a 30 ft by 40 ft plot.
- Area: 30 × 40 = 1,200 sq ft.
- Cents: 1,200 ÷ 435.6 = 2.7548 cent.
- Round to two decimals for talking: about 2.75 cent.
So a 3 cent plot (1,306.8 sq ft) is enough for a 30 ft by 40 ft footprint on paper, with 106.8 sq ft to spare. Remember that setback rules decide how much of it you can actually build on.
Common plot shapes in cents
| Plot | Area | Cents |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft by 30 ft | 600 sq ft | 1.3774 cent |
| 20 ft by 40 ft | 800 sq ft | 1.8365 cent |
| 30 ft by 30 ft | 900 sq ft | 2.0661 cent |
| 30 ft by 40 ft | 1,200 sq ft | 2.7548 cent |
| 30 ft by 50 ft | 1,500 sq ft | 3.4435 cent |
| 30 ft by 60 ft | 1,800 sq ft | 4.1322 cent |
| 40 ft by 50 ft | 2,000 sq ft | 4.5914 cent |
| 40 ft by 60 ft | 2,400 sq ft | 5.5096 cent |
| 50 ft by 60 ft | 3,000 sq ft | 6.8871 cent |
| 50 ft by 80 ft | 4,000 sq ft | 9.1827 cent |
| 100 ft by 100 ft | 10,000 sq ft | 22.9568 cent |
Notice the 40 ft by 60 ft plot. In Chennai that size is called a ground, 2,400 sq ft. One ground is 5.5096 cent, so about 18.15 grounds make an acre.
Square feet to cent table
| Square feet | Cent |
|---|---|
| 100 | 0.229568 |
| 200 | 0.459137 |
| 300 | 0.688705 |
| 500 | 1.1478 |
| 600 | 1.3774 |
| 800 | 1.8365 |
| 900 | 2.0661 |
| 1,000 | 2.2957 |
| 1,200 | 2.7548 |
| 1,500 | 3.4435 |
| 1,800 | 4.1322 |
| 2,000 | 4.5914 |
| 2,400 | 5.5096 |
| 3,000 | 6.8871 |
| 5,000 | 11.4784 |
| 10,000 | 22.9568 |
Price per cent to price per square foot
Sellers quote land rates per cent, while construction is priced per square foot. To compare, divide the rate per cent by 435.6 to get the rate per square foot. To go the other way, multiply the rate per square foot by 435.6. Doing this once stops you from being surprised later.
Tips
- Use the exact divisor. Dividing by 435 instead of 435.6 makes a 10,000 sq ft plot look like 22.9885 cent instead of 22.9568.
- Cents to acres: 100 cents make an acre, so 22.9568 cents (10,000 sq ft) is 0.229568 acre.
- Tamil Nadu records (Patta and Chitta) give the area in hectare, are and square meter. Change those to square feet first, then to cents.
- Confirm the extent with the village office and the land record before paying an advance.
Questions people ask
How many square feet is one cent?
One cent is 435.6 square feet. To go from square feet to cents, divide by 435.6.
2,400 square feet to cent?
2,400 square feet is 5.5096 cent. In Chennai this size is also called 1 ground.
2,000 square feet is how many cents?
2,000 square feet is 4.5914 cent, a little under 4.6 cents.
600 square feet to cent?
600 square feet is 1.3774 cent. A 20 ft by 30 ft plot has this area.
How many square feet for one cent of land in Kerala?
One cent is 435.6 square feet in Kerala, the same as in every other state that uses the cent.
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.