Gaj to Square Yard Converter
Enter an area in gaj to instantly convert it to square yards, square feet, square meters, acres, marla, kanal, and biswa. Switch the direction to convert square yards back to gaj, or enter a price per gaj to see the total land value. All conversions update as you type.
What is a gaj and how does it compare to a square yard?
A gaj (also spelled guz or gaz) is a traditional unit of length that was introduced to the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal period in the 17th century. The Mughal emperor Akbar standardized the gaj as equal to 33 inches, but by the time of British colonial rule it was aligned with the English yard of 36 inches. Today, in common Indian and Pakistani usage, 1 gaj is treated as exactly 1 yard in length, so 1 square gaj equals exactly 1 square yard. This 1:1 equivalence means conversion is trivial: the number of gaj and the number of square yards are the same. Where people get confused is when older or regional definitions of the gaj (ranging from 24 to 36 inches) are in use, so always confirm with local land records before relying on a conversion for legal or transactional purposes.
How to use this calculator
Select the conversion direction from the dropdown at the top. The default is "Gaj to other units": type your area in gaj and the result appears instantly in square yards, square feet, square meters, square inches, acres, hectares, marla, kanal, and biswa. Switch to any reverse direction to convert from square yards, square feet, or square meters back to gaj. To estimate land value, enter the price per gaj in the optional field - the calculator multiplies it by the total gaj area and shows the total. All conversions are precise to at least four decimal places, and the "Show your work" panel breaks down every step of the arithmetic.
Traditional south Asian area units: marla, kanal, biswa, and bigha
Alongside gaj, several traditional area units remain in everyday use across India and Pakistan. A marla is 30.25 square yards (272.25 sq ft) in Punjab, though some older definitions use 25 square yards. A kanal is 20 marla (605 sq yd, 5,445 sq ft) and is widely used in Punjab and Haryana for mid-size plots. A biswa is typically 5 marla (151.25 sq yd) in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, though again regional variants exist. A bigha (pucca) is commonly 20 biswa or 3,025 sq yd in north India, but the size varies widely by state - from about 1,500 sq yd in Rajasthan to 7,840 sq yd in West Bengal. For any land transaction, the local revenue records (patwari records) define the exact standard in force, and this calculator uses the Punjab/north India standard for marla, kanal, and biswa.
Gaj in Indian real estate today
In residential real estate listings across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, plot sizes are almost always quoted in gaj. A 100-gaj plot (100 sq yd, 900 sq ft) is a common entry-level urban plot size. Larger plots of 200, 300, or 500 gaj are common in suburban layouts. Commercial land and agricultural land tend to switch to acres or bigha depending on the region. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) in India requires developers to disclose carpet area in square meters or square feet, but local advertising and informal transactions continue to use gaj because it is familiar to buyers and sellers in north India and Pakistan.
Common land area units used in India and Pakistan
| Unit | Equal to (in gaj) | Equal to (sq ft) | Where commonly used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gaj | 1 | 9 | India, Pakistan (all regions) |
| 1 marla | 30.25 | 272.25 | Punjab (India and Pakistan) |
| 1 kanal | 605 | 5,445 | Punjab (India and Pakistan) |
| 1 biswa | 151.25 | 1,361.25 | North India (UP, Haryana) |
| 1 bigha (pucca) | 3,025 | 27,225 | Bengal, Bihar, UP |
| 1 acre | 4,840 | 43,560 | International / India legal |
| 1 hectare | 11,959.9 | 107,639 | International (SI) |
Conversion factors relative to gaj (1 gaj = 1 square yard). Regional variants of marla, biswa, and bigha exist - figures below are the most widely used standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 gaj equal to 1 square yard?
Yes, in the modern standard used across India and Pakistan, 1 gaj is equal to 1 square yard. Because 1 yard equals 1 gaj in length, 1 square gaj equals 1 square yard in area. The conversion factor is exactly 1. Some older or regional definitions set the gaj at 24, 27, or 33 inches instead of 36 inches, which would change the conversion, but the 1:1 definition is the one used in contemporary land records and real estate in most of north India and Pakistan.
How many square feet are in a gaj?
1 gaj equals 9 square feet. This follows because 1 yard equals 3 feet, so 1 square yard (= 1 gaj) equals 3 feet by 3 feet = 9 square feet. To convert gaj to square feet, multiply by 9. To convert square feet to gaj, divide by 9.
How do I convert gaj to square meters?
1 gaj equals 0.836127 square meters (rounded to six decimal places). To convert, multiply your gaj value by 0.836127. For example, 100 gaj = 100 x 0.836127 = 83.6127 m2. To reverse, divide square meters by 0.836127 to get gaj.
How many gaj are in a marla?
1 marla equals 30.25 gaj (square yards) using the Punjab standard, which is the most common definition. This comes from the British colonial measurement: 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft = 30.25 sq yd = 30.25 gaj. Some older records use 1 marla = 25 sq yd, so always confirm with local revenue authorities.
How many gaj are in a kanal?
1 kanal equals 605 gaj (square yards). A kanal is defined as 20 marla, and since 1 marla = 30.25 gaj, 20 marla = 605 gaj. This is the standard used in Punjab (India and Pakistan). To convert gaj to kanal, divide by 605.
What is a 100-gaj plot in square feet and square meters?
A 100-gaj plot is 900 square feet (100 x 9) or approximately 83.61 square meters (100 x 0.836127). In traditional units it is 3.306 marla (100 / 30.25) or 0.165 kanal. This is a common entry-level residential plot size in cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Lahore.
Why does my local rate quote gaj at a different size?
The gaj was historically a unit of length (like a cubit) whose exact size varied by ruler, region, and era. The Mughal standard was about 33 inches, while the British standardized it to 36 inches (1 yard). Some states and districts in India still use older gaj sizes - for example, in parts of Gujarat the gaj may be defined differently. If your land records or local broker use a different gaj, this calculator may not apply directly. Always cross-check with the local patwari or sub-registrar.