Marla to Sq Ft Converter Pakistan Guide: 225 vs 272.25 Land Measurement
Complete guide to Pakistani land area units. Understand 225 sq ft urban housing scheme Marla vs 272.25 sq ft PLRA revenue Marla, Kanal, Sarsai, worked plot examples & buyer checklist.
⚡ Quick Answer: What is a Marla in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, 1 Marla equals 225 sq ft in private urban housing schemes (e.g., DHA, Bahria Town, LDA City) or 272.25 sq ft in traditional government revenue records (PLRA / Fard). Always verify which standard applies to your plot before buying to avoid substantial financial discrepancy.
Navigating real estate transactions in Pakistan—whether purchasing a 5 Marla residential plot in DHA Lahore, evaluating a 10 Marla property in Bahria Town Rawalpindi, or inspecting agricultural land in Punjab—requires a thorough understanding of regional land area measurements. Because Pakistan operates under two distinct Marla standards, a misinterpretation of plot size can lead to financial losses amounting to millions of rupees. Use our interactive Marla to Sq Ft Converter Pakistan to calculate exact dimensions instantly.
1. What is a Marla? History & Regional Origin
The Marla is a traditional unit of land area originally used across South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and northern India. Historically, land area was measured using a wooden surveying rod called a Karam (equivalent to 5.5 feet). Nine square Karams (5.5 ft × 5.5 ft = 30.25 sq yards = 272.25 sq ft) defined one Marla.
2. Why Pakistan Has Two Different Marla Standards (225 vs 272.25 Sq Ft)
One of the most frequent sources of confusion for property buyers in Pakistan is the existence of two widely used definitions of Marla:
🏢 225 Sq Ft Standard (Urban Housing Schemes)
Adopted by major private developers and development authorities (such as DHA, Bahria Town, LDA City, and CDA Islamabad) to establish uniform grid layouts (e.g., a 15 ft × 15 ft square per Marla or 30 ft × 60 ft for 8 Marlas).
📜 272.25 Sq Ft Standard (Government Revenue Records)
Recognized by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), Board of Revenue, and municipal government registrars for rural land, agricultural property, and official Fard-e-Malkiat documents.
3. Hierarchy of Pakistani Land Measurement Units
To convert between various property sizes, understand the mathematical relationship connecting Sarsai, Marla, Kanal, Square Yards, and Acres:
| Unit Name | Relationship to Marla | 225 Sq Ft Standard | 272.25 Sq Ft Revenue Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sarsai (Sarsahi) | 1/20th Marla | 11.25 sq ft | 13.6125 sq ft |
| 1 Marla | 1 Marla (20 Sarsai) | 225.00 sq ft | 272.25 sq ft |
| 1 Kanal | 20 Marla | 4,500.00 sq ft | 5,445.00 sq ft |
| 1 Square Yard (Gaz) | 9 Square Feet | 25.00 sq yd per Marla | 30.25 sq yd per Marla |
| 1 Acre | 8 Kanal (160 Marla) | 36,000 sq ft (Urban) | 43,560 sq ft (Standard) |
4. Required Worked Example: 30 ft × 60 ft Plot Area
Consider a standard residential plot measuring 30 feet in width by 60 feet in length:
Financial Discrepancy Impact: If a seller advertises an 1,800 sq ft plot as "8 Marla" under the 225 standard, but the market rate in that locality is calculated at Rs 10,000 per sq ft based on the 272.25 revenue Marla, the valuation gap equals 1.39 Marla (378 sq ft) or Rs 3,780,000 (37.8 Lakh PKR)!
⚠️ Common Property Buyer Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming 1 Marla is identical everywhere: Comparing plot prices in DHA (225 sq ft) directly with rural revenue land (272.25 sq ft) without converting to cost per square foot.
- Confusing Square Yards (Gaz) with Square Feet: 1 Square Yard equals 9 Square Feet. A 100 Gaz plot is 900 sq ft (4 Marlas under 225 standard).
- Relying on verbal promises or marketing flyers: Always verify physical ground measurements against the allotment letter or official Fard.
- Ignoring roads & corner cutting: Ensure net covered area measurements exclude municipal road cut-backs.
📋 Property Verification Checklist: What to Do Next
- Measure physical plot width and length using a certified tape measure.
- Calculate total square footage (Width × Length).
- Ask the developer or revenue officer whether the scheme uses 225 sq ft or 272.25 sq ft per Marla.
- Cross-verify with the official Fard / Allotment Letter issued by PLRA or the society transfer office.
- Compute price per square foot to compare property value across different housing societies fairly.
- If applying for plot financing, calculate bank monthly installments using our EMI Loan Calculator Pakistan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two different Marla standards in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, private housing schemes (like DHA, Bahria Town, and LDA City) adopted a simplified 225 sq ft Marla (15 ft × 15 ft) for uniform plot grids. Meanwhile, official revenue records under the Punjab Land Revenue Act (PLRA) maintain the traditional 272.25 sq ft Marla (based on 30.25 sq yards or 9 square Karams).
How do you convert a 30 ft × 60 ft plot into Marlas?
A 30 ft × 60 ft plot has a total area of 1,800 sq ft. Under the 225 sq ft housing scheme standard, 1,800 ÷ 225 = 8.00 Marlas. Under the 272.25 sq ft revenue record standard, 1,800 ÷ 272.25 = 6.61 Marlas.
How many Sarsai (Sarsahi) are in 1 Marla?
There are exactly 20 Sarsai in 1 Marla. Under the 272.25 sq ft revenue standard, 1 Sarsai equals 13.6125 sq ft. Under the 225 sq ft urban standard, 1 Sarsai equals 11.25 sq ft.
What document shows the official Marla area of a property?
The official Marla measurement and Khasra details are recorded in the Fard-e-Malkiat (issued by the Punjab Land Records Authority / PLRA or relevant provincial revenue department), the Registered Sale Deed (Registry), or the Allotment Letter for private schemes.
Last Updated: August 12, 2026 | Author: Abaid Awan | Reading time: 8 min | Publisher: PakCalcHub | Sources: Punjab Land Revenue Act (PLRA), Survey of Pakistan | Disclaimer: For educational property planning only; verify physical dimensions with licensed surveyors and official revenue records.
Abaid Awan
Developer & Editor, PakCalcHubDeveloper & Editor of PakCalcHub. Specialized in microsecond client-side calculation models and statutory FBR/NEPRA/SBP formula verification.
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