Marla and kanal sizes
| Unit | Society standard | Revenue standard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 marla | 225 sq ft (25 sq yd) | 272.25 sq ft (30.25 sq yd) |
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361.25 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,722.5 sq ft |
| 1 kanal (20 marla) | 4,500 sq ft (500 sq yd) | 5,445 sq ft (605 sq yd) |
| 1 acre (8 kanal) | – | 43,560 sq ft |
Which marla should I use?
Pakistan has two marlas in everyday use. Most housing societies and developers, including many schemes in Lahore and Islamabad, sell plots using a 225 sq ft marla, so a “5 marla house” there is 1,125 sq ft. Land revenue records kept by the patwari use the older 272.25 sq ft marla (a square of 16.5 ft), and that is the one that makes 160 marla equal one acre.
Some cities and societies use other sizes again, such as 250 sq ft. Always check the size written on your allotment letter or registry, and if it differs, convert to square feet first using that number.
Larger land units
- Kanal: always 20 marla.
- Acre: 8 kanal (160 revenue marla), or 43,560 sq ft.
- Murabba (square): 25 acres, a unit used for farmland in Punjab.
Worked example
A 1 kanal plot in a society that uses 225 sq ft marla is 20 × 225 = 4,500 sq ft, or 418 m². The same plot measured with the revenue marla would be 5,445 sq ft. The difference, 945 sq ft, is why the marla size matters when you compare prices.