By Wakeel Mayo · 10 October 2026
In Pakistan land is measured in marla and kanal, but the size of one marla is not the same everywhere. Before you compare two properties, make sure you are comparing the same unit.
The basic units
- 1 kanal = 20 marla
- 1 acre = 8 kanal = 160 marla
- 1 square yard = 9 square feet
How big is one marla?
Many housing societies, including DHA Lahore and Bahria Town, use 225 square feet per marla, so a kanal is 4,500 square feet. Government land records traditionally use 272.25 square feet per marla (a kanal of 5,445 square feet). Some older areas use other local sizes. Always ask which marla size the seller is using.
| Size | At 225 sq ft / marla | At 272.25 sq ft / marla |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,723 sq ft |
| 1 kanal | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| 2 kanal | 9,000 sq ft | 10,890 sq ft |
Karachi uses square yards
In Karachi, bungalows are sold in square yards: a 500 square yard plot is 4,500 square feet — the same as a 1 kanal plot in a 225-square-foot society.
Use our area converter to switch between units instantly.
