What Is Marla?
A marla is a traditional unit used to measure land area. It is common in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, mainly for house plots and small pieces of land. One marla does not have the exact same size everywhere, so it is very important to know which local standard is used.
Definition
In simple words, a marla tells you how big a piece of land is, just like square feet or square meters. It is not part of the modern metric system, but people still use it in daily life, especially in real estate.
The size of one marla is usually taken in two main ways:
- Pakistan standard marla: about 272.25 square feet per marla.
- Common Indian marla: about 225 square feet per marla.
In more detail:
- Pakistan standard marla
1 marla ≈ 272.25 square feet ≈ 30.25 square yards ≈ 25.29 square meters.
There are 160 marla in 1 acre. - Common Indian marla
1 marla ≈ 225 square feet ≈ 25 square yards ≈ 20.90 square meters.
Local rules can still change this slightly.
Because the size can change by region, always check the local definition before buying or selling land.
History / Origin
The marla comes from older land systems that were used during the time of the British rule in South Asia. At that time land was often measured in acres and fractions of an acre.
Originally, a marla was set so that:
- 1 marla = 1 divided by 160 of an acre.
- This gives about 272.25 square feet per marla.
Later, when different areas made their own land rules, some places kept the old size and some changed it. In many parts of India a simpler smaller marla of 225 square feet became common. In Pakistan the government chose a clear standard close to the old British value.
This is why today the word marla is the same, but the area can be different from city to city or country to country.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The marla is not an official SI unit, so there is no single international symbol. In practice people use simple short forms when writing:
- marla or Marla written in full.
- mrl or just the letter M in some local land forms and ads.
On property papers you will often see a number and the word marla. For example, “5 marla house” or “10 marla plot”. When reading such ads, it is wise to ask which marla size they use, Pakistan standard or local Indian size.
Current Use Around the World
The marla is mainly used in South Asia.
- Pakistan
Marla is very common in property deals, housing schemes and land records. Builders and real estate agents often talk about 5 marla or 10 marla houses. The government standard is about 272.25 square feet per marla, and 20 marla make 1 kanal. - India
Marla is still used in several states and small towns, alongside other local units like bigha and katha. The size often used is about 225 square feet per marla, but this can change by district. - Bangladesh and nearby areas
In some regions people know the term marla, but other units like katha, decimal and bigha are more common. Where marla is used, its value should be checked locally.
Outside South Asia, marla is not used in official systems. In most other countries people use square meters, square feet, hectares or acres instead. However, South Asian communities abroad may still speak about house sizes in marla when they compare homes with family back home.
Example Conversions
Below are simple examples to help you understand the size of a marla. Values are rounded so they are easy to remember.
Pakistan standard marla conversions
| Marla | Square feet | Square yards | Square meters | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 marla | ≈ 272.25 sq ft | ≈ 30.25 sq yd | ≈ 25.29 sq m | ≈ 0.00625 acre |
| 5 marla | ≈ 1,361 sq ft | ≈ 151.25 sq yd | ≈ 126.45 sq m | ≈ 0.03125 acre |
| 10 marla | ≈ 2,722 sq ft | ≈ 302.5 sq yd | ≈ 252.9 sq m | ≈ 0.0625 acre |
| 20 marla | ≈ 5,445 sq ft | ≈ 605 sq yd | ≈ 505.8 sq m | ≈ 0.125 acre |
In Pakistan, 20 marla is also called 1 kanal.
Common Indian marla conversions
| Marla | Square feet | Square yards | Square meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 marla | ≈ 225 sq ft | ≈ 25 sq yd | ≈ 20.90 sq m |
| 5 marla | ≈ 1,125 sq ft | ≈ 125 sq yd | ≈ 104.5 sq m |
| 10 marla | ≈ 2,250 sq ft | ≈ 250 sq yd | ≈ 209 sq m |
How to convert marla to other units
You can use these simple rules, then round the result.
- Pakistan standard
Square feet = marla × 272.25.
Square meters = marla × 25.29. - Common Indian
Square feet = marla × 225.
Square meters = marla × 20.90.
Always choose the correct type of marla for your area before using these rules.
Related Units
Marla is linked to many other land area units used in South Asia and worldwide.
- Square foot (sq ft) the most common small area unit in building plans.
- Square yard (sq yd) an older unit. Marla is often defined using square yards.
- Square meter (sq m) the main metric unit for area, used in most countries.
- Acre a larger land unit. Traditionally there are 160 marla in 1 acre.
- Kanal used in Pakistan. 1 kanal = 20 marla (Pakistan standard).
- Bigha a local land unit in many parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Its size changes a lot from place to place.
- Hectare a big metric land unit. 1 hectare = 10,000 square meters.
FAQs
How big is 1 marla in simple terms
Using the Pakistan standard, 1 marla is about the size of a small studio apartment floor, a bit more than 270 square feet. Using the Indian size, it is closer to 225 square feet, like a medium sized room plus a bit more.
Is the marla the same size in every country
No. The marla size changes by country and even by city. Pakistan usually uses about 272.25 square feet per marla. Many places in India use about 225 square feet per marla. Because of this you should always ask which standard is being used.
Why is marla still used when we have square meters
People keep using marla because it is familiar and easy for them. For example, saying “5 marla house” quickly tells local people the rough size of the plot. Changing habits and old land records to new units takes time, so both marla and metric units are used side by side.
How many marla are there in 1 kanal
In Pakistan the common rule is 20 marla = 1 kanal. So a 1 kanal plot is the same as 20 marla, and a 10 marla plot is half a kanal.
How many marla make 1 acre
In the traditional system there are 160 marla in 1 acre. This uses the Pakistan standard marla size of about 272.25 square feet.
How can I quickly estimate marla to square feet
If you are in Pakistan, multiply marla by 270 to get a quick close guess in square feet. If you are in India, multiply marla by 225. For example, 5 marla in Pakistan is about 5 × 270 = 1,350 square feet, which is very close to the exact 1,361 square feet.
Is marla an official SI unit
No. Marla is not part of the International System of Units. It is a traditional or customary unit. For science, engineering and most international work, people use square meters and hectares instead.
What should I check when buying a 5 marla or 10 marla plot
First, ask which marla size is used in that housing scheme or city. Second, check the exact area written in square feet or square meters on the plot map or sale deed. This way you know the real size and can compare prices fairly.