Land Area Calculator - Square Feet, Acres, Hectares & Cents
Land area is calculated from the selected plot shape, then converted into square feet, square metres, acres, hectares, cents, and guntas for quick comparison.
Optional cost uses calculated area in the active unit system.
Change any value and the results, formula, and diagram update immediately. Use the same unit system throughout one estimate.
Land Area Unit Conversions
Land is measured in vastly different units around the world. The calculator converts between all of them; this is the cheat sheet.
| Unit | Region | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Square foot (sq ft) | US, India urban | 0.0929 m² |
| Square yard (sq yd / gaj) | UK, India urban | 9 sq ft = 0.836 m² |
| Square metre (m²) | Worldwide metric | 10.764 sq ft |
| Acre | US, UK, AU | 43,560 sq ft = 4,046.86 m² = 0.4047 hectare |
| Hectare (ha) | Worldwide metric | 10,000 m² = 2.471 acres = 107,639 sq ft |
| Cent | Kerala, Tamil Nadu | 435.6 sq ft = 40.47 m² (1/100 acre) |
| Gunta | Karnataka, Maharashtra | 1,089 sq ft = 101.17 m² (1/40 acre) |
| Ground | Tamil Nadu, Andhra | 2,400 sq ft = 222.97 m² |
| Bigha (varies by state) | UP / Bihar / Punjab | 1,500-27,000 sq ft - see table below |
| Katha | Bengal, Assam, Bihar | 720 sq ft (Bengal) or 1,361 sq ft (Bihar) |
| Kanal | Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Pakistan | 5,445 sq ft = 1/8 acre |
| Marla | Punjab, Haryana, Pakistan | 272.25 sq ft (1/20 kanal) |
| Sq metre / are | Continental Europe | 100 m² (1 are) = 1,076.4 sq ft |
Bigha - The Most Confusing Indian Unit
Bigha changes meaning by state - check before transacting.
| State / region | 1 bigha |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh (pucca) | 27,000 sq ft |
| Bihar / Jharkhand | 26,910 sq ft |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12,000 sq ft |
| Rajasthan (pucca) | 27,225 sq ft |
| West Bengal | 14,400 sq ft |
| Assam | 14,400 sq ft |
| Punjab / Haryana | 9,070 sq ft (1/5 acre) |
| Himachal Pradesh | 8,712 sq ft |
| Gujarat (vigha) | 17,427 sq ft |
Always confirm the local bigha definition with the patwari, tehsildar, or land records office before signing.
Land Area Formulas By Shape
Rectangle
Area = length x width. Use perpendicular edges, not the diagonal.
Triangle
Area = (base x perpendicular height) / 2. Height is the straight line from base to apex, not the slope.
Circle
Area = pi x radius². Radius is half the diameter. For 1/4 acre round plot: r=58.9 ft.
Trapezoid
Area = (base1 + base2) / 2 x height. For trapezoidal plots with two parallel sides.
Irregular polygon
Break into triangles and rectangles. Calculate each and sum. For more than 6-8 sides, use surveyor tools (total station, GPS).
Sloped / hilly land
The calculator gives projection area, not surface area. Steep land has more surface than projection - matters for fencing, less for sale.
Survey vs Estimate
This calculator gives a planning number from measurements you provide. It is not a legal survey.
- For sale / purchase: get a licensed survey (cadastral survey, RTK GPS). Recorded in land records.
- For permit / building: the survey drawing is usually required to apply for a building permit.
- For estimating materials: a calculator number is fine - fencing, landscaping, paving math.
- For mortgage / valuation: the official record area controls. Avoid mixing measured area with record area in negotiations.
- Boundary disputes: only a registered surveyor and stamped drawing settle a boundary line.
Land Area Cost Anchors
Land prices vary by orders of magnitude. Some reference anchors for 2026:
- US rural farmland: $3,000-15,000 / acre (corn belt average ~$7,500).
- US suburban building lot: $50,000-500,000 / acre depending on metro.
- US urban infill: $1-10 million / acre in major metros.
- India tier-1 metro residential: ₹5,000-30,000 / sq ft (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore).
- India tier-2 city: ₹1,500-5,000 / sq ft.
- India peri-urban / village: ₹100-1,000 / sq ft (highly variable).
- UK residential lot: £100,000-500,000 / acre suburb; £5-50 million / acre central London.
- Australia metro residential: A$200-1,500 / m² suburb; much higher inner city.
Common Mistakes
- Using diagonal instead of perpendicular edge length in rectangle formula.
- Sloped sides taken as perpendicular - height must be at right angle to the base.
- Mixing acre (43,560 sq ft) with sq feet without converting.
- Treating a measured area as legal land area without a registered survey.
- Using one state's bigha definition in a different state.
- Forgetting setback, easements, and unbuildable area when calculating "usable" land.
- Confusing radius and diameter for circular plots.
- Sloped / hilly land - calculator gives projection area, not surface area.
Land Area Calculator FAQ
How many square feet in 1 acre?
43,560 sq ft. Also equal to 4,840 sq yd, 4,046.86 m², 0.4047 hectare, 100 cents, or 40 guntas (Indian units).
How many cents in 1 acre?
100 cents = 1 acre. So 1 cent = 435.6 sq ft = 40.47 m². Cent is common in Kerala and Tamil Nadu real estate.
How many guntas in 1 acre?
40 guntas = 1 acre. 1 gunta = 1,089 sq ft = 101.17 m² = 121 sq yd. Gunta is the Karnataka and Maharashtra unit.
What is 1 bigha?
Varies by state. Punjab: 9,070 sq ft (1/5 acre). UP: 27,000 sq ft. MP: 12,000 sq ft. Bihar / Rajasthan: ~27,000 sq ft. West Bengal / Assam: 14,400 sq ft. Always check the local definition.
How many hectares in 100 acres?
40.47 hectares. Conversely, 100 hectares = 247 acres. 1 hectare = 10,000 m².
How do I calculate area of an irregular plot?
Break the boundary into rectangles and triangles. Calculate each and add. For more than 6-8 sides, use a surveyor or GIS-based measurement.
What is the difference between built-up area and carpet area?
Carpet area: usable interior floor. Built-up: carpet + walls + balcony. Super built-up: built-up + share of common areas. Indian RERA mandates carpet-area pricing for new construction.
How accurate is this calculator?
Accurate for the math given your inputs. For legal land transactions, get a survey. For planning and material ordering, this is enough.
How many sq yards (gaj) in 1 acre?
4,840 square yards = 1 acre. In North Indian real estate, 1 gaj = 9 sq ft = 0.836 m².
What is 1 kanal?
5,445 sq ft = 506 m² = 1/8 acre. Used in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Kashmir, and Pakistan. Subdivided into 20 marlas.
Related Construction Calculators
For floor or interior area, see the Square Footage Calculator. For boundary fencing, the Fence Calculator. For landscape stone or mulch beds on the lot, see the Stone Calculator or Mulch Calculator. More tools live on the Construction Calculators hub.
Sources
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - land measurement references
- India BhuNaksha - land records portal
- UK HM Land Registry
- US National Geodetic Survey
- Bureau of Indian Standards - IS 1078 land measurement
- NIST Handbook 44 unit conversion tables
This calculator is for planning and ordering conversations. Local code, project drawings, engineered design, and manufacturer instructions control the final work.