Marla, Kanal and Square Feet — Property Sizes Explained Simply
Published: 23 October 2026 · Updated: 30 October 2026
"A 5 marla plot", "a 1 kanal house" — this is the language of property in Pakistan. But how big is a marla really? And is every marla equal? The answer is no — and that difference can be worth hundreds of thousands.
Standard measures (common today)
- 1 Marla = 272.25 square feet (30.25 square yards)
- 1 Kanal = 20 Marla = 5,445 sq ft
- 1 Acre = 8 Kanal = 160 Marla = 43,560 sq ft
- 1 Square Yard = 9 sq ft · 1 sq metre ≈ 10.764 sq ft
Common plot sizes
- 3 Marla: 816.75 sq ft — for example 27 × 30 ft
- 5 Marla: 1,361.25 sq ft — for example 27 × 50 or 35 × 40 ft
- 7 Marla: 1,905.75 sq ft
- 10 Marla: 2,722.5 sq ft (half a kanal)
- 1 Kanal: 5,445 sq ft — for example 50 × 109 ft
A plot's size is also found by multiplying front × depth in feet: 35 × 40 = 1,400 sq ft ≈ 5.14 marla.
Warning: the 225 and 250 marla
In some old settlements, some cities and old revenue records, the marla has also been 225 sq ft or 250 sq ft. If you are given "10 marla" measured at 225, that is actually 2,250 sq ft — 472 sq ft less than a standard 10 marla (2,722.5). Before buying, always ask and check the documents: how many square feet is this marla? Match the measurement across all three: the fard, the registry and the map.
A quick calculation method
To convert marla to sq ft, multiply by 272.25; to convert sq ft to marla, divide by 272.25. PakRoz's Marla Converter calculates marla, kanal, square yards, sq ft, sq metres and acres — all together. In any property deal, always have the actual measurement done in front of you — the size on paper and the size on the ground are not always the same.