Bigha is the most commonly used land unit in rural India — and the most confusing, because it means something different in every state. This guide gives you the exact conversion for every state.
Why Bigha Varies by State
[Diagram: Unit comparison] -- 1 hectare = 2.471 acres = 10,000 sq m. 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft. Visual: 1 acre is roughly one football field.
India never standardized traditional land units. Each kingdom and later each state defined bigha based on local agricultural practices. The result: "1 bigha" ranges from 907 sq m in Punjab to 2,529 sq m in parts of Rajasthan.
State-by-State Bigha Conversion Table
| State | 1 Bigha (sq m) | 1 Bigha (sq ft) | Bigha per Acre | Acre per Bigha | |-------|---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| | UP / Uttarakhand | 1,337.8 | 14,399 | 3.025 | 0.331 | | Bihar | 1,337.8 | 14,399 | 3.025 | 0.331 | | Punjab / Haryana | 907 | 9,764 | 4.84 | 0.207 | | Rajasthan (standard) | 1,618 | 17,424 | 2.5 | 0.400 | | Rajasthan (some areas) | 2,529 | 27,220 | 1.6 | 0.625 | | Assam | 1,336.8 | 14,389 | 3.03 | 0.330 | | West Bengal | 1,335 | 14,370 | 3.03 | 0.330 | | Gujarat | 1,619 | 17,435 | 2.5 | 0.400 | | Himachal Pradesh | 809 | 8,708 | 5.0 | 0.200 | | Madhya Pradesh | 1,337.8 | 14,399 | 3.025 | 0.331 |
Conversion Examples
Example 1: 7 bigha in UP to acres
7 × 0.331 = 2.317 acres
Example 2: 5 bigha in Punjab to acres
5 × 0.207 = 1.035 acres
Same "5 bigha" — but the UP plot is more than double the Punjab plot in acreage.
Example 3: 2 acres in Rajasthan to bigha
2 × 2.5 = 5 bigha (standard Rajasthan bigha)
Sub-Units of Bigha
| State | Sub-unit | Relation | |-------|----------|----------| | UP/Bihar | Biswa | 20 biswa = 1 bigha | | Punjab | Marla | 160 marla = 1 acre | | Punjab | Kanal | 8 kanal = 1 acre | | Rajasthan | Biswansi | 20 biswansi = 1 biswa | | Assam | Katha | 5 katha = 1 bigha | | Bengal | Katha | 20 katha = 1 bigha |
Practical Tips for Land Transactions
- Always verify the local definition — ask the patwari/revenue officer
- Convert to square meters for comparison across states
- Check the jamabandi/khatauni — official land records specify the exact area
- Get a survey — don't rely on verbal descriptions of "bigha boundaries"
- Use government portals — Bhulekh (UP), Jamabandi (Haryana), etc.
The Trench Truth: In land disputes, the #1 issue is mismatched bigha definitions. Seller claims "10 bigha" using Punjab definition (9,070 sq m total). Buyer assumes UP definition (13,378 sq m). That's a 47% discrepancy worth lakhs of rupees. Always convert to sq m and write that in the agreement.
Convert any bigha measurement instantly with our area converter — select your state's definition for accurate results.
Further Reading
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