Anyone who has looked at agriculture land in India for more than a few minutes has run into the bigha, and anyone who has tried to convert it has probably ended up with three different answers from three different people. That isn't because someone is wrong. The bigha is a traditional unit that each region defines in its own way, so a bigha in Uttar Pradesh is a very different size from a bigha in Assam. This blog gives you the numbers for the main states, explains why they differ, and shows you how to convert any bigha figure into acres and square feet before you pay for anything.
What a Bigha Is and Why the Size Changes
The name bigha derives from old land measurement techniques employed by village revenue officials, who have been using units specific to their area even before the metric measurement system came into existence. After Independence, many states retained the bigha in their revenue documents as others went over to the use of acres and hectares, creating an undefined unit in the country as a whole. There are two main reasons for the confusion:
- Region-wise. Every state, and sometimes even every district, has its own definition of what a bigha is.
- Pucca vs. kachha. In many northern states, a pucca bigha represents the larger, standardised unit, and a kachha bigha is a smaller traditional one that is just a fraction of it. One is quoted, while the other is expected.
The number “5 bigha”, if it is mentioned without specifying a particular state or kind, will not provide much information about it. Always make sure to clarify what exactly is meant.
Bigha to Acre and Square Feet by State
The table below lists commonly used values. Treat them as a working guide and not as a legal definition, since the figure in your own revenue record is the one that counts.
| State or region | 1 bigha in square feet | 1 bigha in acres | 1 bigha in square metres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar (pucca bigha) | About 27,225 | About 0.625 | About 2,529 |
| Gujarat | About 17,424 | About 0.4 | About 1,619 |
| West Bengal and Assam | 14,400 | About 0.33 | About 1,338 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 8,712 | 0.2 | About 809 |
However, a few things should be kept in mind while using the above-mentioned table. There are some districts in Uttar Pradesh where 27,000 square feet is a common rounded figure of the pucca bigha. The state of Rajasthan has some variations, as there are some districts where a small bigha is used in old documents. The state of Bihar and Gujarat have variations from district to district. Some other states, like Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, use bigha with other local measures, but their values are not mentioned above.
Also Read: Why Selling 2 Acres Can Be Harder Than Selling a ₹2 Crore Flat?
The Basic Conversions You Should Know
Even if the bigha is confusing, the units around it are fixed, and learning them makes every other calculation easier. When you compare farmland plots across different states, these are the numbers you will keep coming back to.
| Unit | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 acre | 43,560 square feet |
| 1 acre | 4,840 square yards |
| 1 acre | About 4,047 square metres |
| 1 hectare | About 2.47 acres |
| 1 square yard (also called gaj) | 9 square feet |
| 1 kanal | 5,445 square feet |
| 1 marla | 272.25 square feet |
| 1 cent | 435.6 square feet |
| 1 biswa | One twentieth of a bigha |
The biswa deserves a note of its own, because many records divide the bigha into 20 biswa. If a plot is listed as 3 bigha and 10 biswa, the area is 3.5 bigha.
How to Convert Bigha to Acres and Square Feet?
It is always similar in all states, and the procedure is very easy.
- Determine the bigha unit to be converted. Look at the state and the district, and determine if it is a pucca or kachha bigha.
- Determine the area of one bigha in square feet from land records or from the local revenue office. The above table can help you start off.
- Multiply by the number of bighas to get the area in square feet.
- Divide by 43,560 to convert square feet to acres.
- Compare your answer with the records. Compare the area you have determined with the area recorded in the khasra, khatauni, jamabandi, or any other record kept in your state.
Worked examples
- 5 bigha, pucca (27,225 sq ft each): 5 × 27,225 = 136,125 sq ft, which is 3.125 acres.
- 10 bigha in West Bengal (14,400 sq ft each): 10 × 14,400 = 144,000 sq ft, which is about 3.31 acres.
- 2 bigha in Himachal Pradesh (8,712 sq ft each): 2 × 8,712 = 17,424 sq ft, which is 0.4 acres.
- 1 acre in pucca bigha: 43,560 ÷ 27,225 = 1.6 bigha.
Observe the differences in the area covered by the very same "2 bigha." It is equal to 1.25 acres in the state of Uttar Pradesh but is less than half an acre in Himachal Pradesh. A purchaser who considers the former measure and discovers the latter after paying a deposit buys non-existent land.
Why This Matters When You Buy?
Mismatch of the units of measure is one of the most common causes of feeling cheated even if no one has lied. When the seller quotes a price per bigha, and the buyer calculates per acre, chances are that both of them are considering different sizes of land. Do the following to avoid getting cheated before buying:
- Ask for the area in square feet or square metres along with the bigha figure.
- Check the sale deed, the land record, and the physical measurement.
- In case of doubt, hire an authorized surveyor to measure the plot because the cost will be relatively low compared to the value of the land.
- Calculate the price per square foot or per acre to compare it with others.
Anyone running a farm lands near me search will see prices quoted in bigha, biswa, kanal, acre, and gaj on the same results page, and the only way to compare them honestly is to convert everything into one unit first. Acres or square feet both work, as long as you stick to one.
Pricing Land Per Bigha Without Getting Misled
Though price per bigha seems straightforward, the reality of units comes into play. Two properties that both cost 10 lakh per bigha are not of equal value if one property covers 27,225 sq ft of land area and the other one 14,400. The first one then becomes about half the cost per sq. ft. as compared to the second property.
There is an easy method by which one can test the accuracy. Just divide the total price of the property by the square footage. So, for instance, if a property with 27,225 sq ft has a price of 10 lakh, its price per sq ft will be about 36.7. Whereas the other property that covers 14,400 sq ft and still costs 10 lakh will cost around 69.4 per sq. ft.
When You Want to Sell Your Land?
This same problem is faced by sellers as well. A seller listing a plot in bigha without mentioning the standard unit in the state will attract questions from the buyer or receive low offers. If you wish to buy agricultural land in India, make sure you list the size of your property in acres and square feet, apart from listing the size in bighas. Buyers looking to buy agricultural land in India normally search by acres or by price. There are a few practices that will help you close your deal sooner:
- State whether it is pucca or kachha.
- List the khasra/survey number so that the buyer can check it himself/herself.
- Make sure you have a measurement report handy.
- Use the same unit in the photo, description, and document.
Buy or Sell Land on 2Bigha
As the name suggests, 2Bigha is a platform made specifically for people working on land measured in this unit. The seller can search for various parcels of agricultural land within different states, view the area expressed in terms that can be compared, and book a visit in order to view the parcel of land. Background verification reports can assist the buyer in the process of buying the land, especially if it becomes important to match the area on the record and the actual area on the field. In case someone would like to sell land online, it can be done by adding a parcel of land along with its location, area, and pictures to 2Bigha.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, legal, financial, or property advice. Real estate regulations, infrastructure plans, market conditions, and government policies may change over time. Readers are advised to verify information with relevant authorities and consult qualified professionals before making any investment or property-related decisions.
