Katha to Square Feet Converter
Convert katha to square feet for any South Asian region. Katha is a traditional land unit whose size varies widely - from 720 square feet in West Bengal and Bangladesh to 3,645 square feet in Nepal. Select your region, enter the katha value, and get the result in square feet, square meters, and other common units. The reverse mode lets you go from square feet back to katha.
What is a Katha and why does it vary?
Katha (also spelled "kattah" or "cottah") is a traditional unit of land area used across South Asia - primarily in Bangladesh, the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and in Nepal. The word derives from Sanskrit. Unlike metric or imperial units, katha was never standardised across the subcontinent, so its size evolved independently in each region over centuries of local land administration. In West Bengal and Bangladesh, where the unit is most widely known, 1 katha equals 720 square feet (one-fortieth of a bigha of 2 bigha = 1 acre). In Bihar and most of northern India, 1 katha equals 1,361.25 square feet. In Assam the figure is 2,880 square feet, and in Nepal it reaches 3,645 square feet. The difference between the smallest and largest definition is more than fivefold, which makes it essential to know the local standard before any land transaction.
How to convert katha to square feet
The formula is straightforward once you know the local conversion factor: Square Feet = Katha x Conversion Factor. For West Bengal and Bangladesh the factor is 720, for Bihar it is 1,361.25, for Assam it is 2,880, and for Nepal it is 3,645. For example, 5 katha in West Bengal equals 5 x 720 = 3,600 square feet. The same 5 katha in Assam would equal 5 x 2,880 = 14,400 square feet - four times larger. To go the other direction (square feet to katha), divide by the factor: Katha = Square Feet / Conversion Factor. This calculator handles both directions with a single mode switch.
Katha in context - comparing to other units
In West Bengal, the traditional land hierarchy runs: 1 bigha = 20 katha = 14,400 square feet (about 0.33 acres). In Bihar, 1 bigha = 20 katha = 27,225 square feet (about 0.625 acres). To convert katha to acres, divide the square-foot result by 43,560. To convert to square meters, multiply square feet by 0.0929. For large plots it is often clearer to work in acres or hectares - this calculator shows all four units simultaneously so you can pick whichever your audience uses. In urban real estate, square feet is the dominant unit for apartments and small plots; for agricultural land and large parcels, bigha, acre, and hectare are more common.
Tips for land buyers and sellers
When comparing land listings across different districts or states, never assume the same katha size applies. A listing that says "2 katha" in Patna (Bihar) refers to approximately 2,722 square feet, while "2 katha" in Kolkata (West Bengal) means only 1,440 square feet. Always ask the seller or agent which regional standard they are using, and verify it against the registered deed. For legal and financial purposes, convert all areas to square meters or acres before comparison, as these are internationally recognised units. When in doubt, request the area in square meters from the official cadastral record.
Katha to Square Feet by Region
| Region | Sq ft per Katha | Sq m per Katha | Katha per Acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal / Bangladesh | 720 | 66.89 | 60.50 |
| Saran, Bihar | 1,000 | 92.90 | 43.56 |
| Bihar (standard) | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Gorakhpur / East UP | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Gaya, Bihar | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Aurangabad, Bihar | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Uttarakhand | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Jharkhand | 1,361.25 | 126.49 | 32.00 |
| Assam | 2,880 | 267.55 | 15.13 |
| Nepal | 3,645 | 338.63 | 11.95 |
Katha is a traditional South Asian land unit. Its size varies widely by state and country. Always confirm the local standard before any land transaction.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is 1 katha?
It depends on the region. In West Bengal and Bangladesh, 1 katha = 720 square feet. In Bihar and most of northern India, 1 katha = 1,361.25 square feet. In Assam, 1 katha = 2,880 square feet. In Nepal, 1 katha = 3,645 square feet. Select your region in this calculator to get the correct result.
How do I convert katha to square feet?
Multiply the number of katha by the conversion factor for your region. For West Bengal: sq ft = katha x 720. For Bihar: sq ft = katha x 1,361.25. For Assam: sq ft = katha x 2,880. For Nepal: sq ft = katha x 3,645. This calculator does the multiplication automatically.
How many katha make 1 acre?
Again, this depends on the region. 1 acre = 43,560 square feet. Dividing by the regional katha size gives: West Bengal / Bangladesh - about 60.5 katha per acre. Bihar - exactly 32 katha per acre. Assam - about 15.1 katha per acre. Nepal - about 11.95 katha per acre.
What is 1 katha in square meters?
Convert square feet to square meters by multiplying by 0.0929. So: West Bengal katha = 720 x 0.0929 = 66.9 sq m. Bihar katha = 1,361.25 x 0.0929 = 126.5 sq m. Assam katha = 2,880 x 0.0929 = 267.6 sq m. Nepal katha = 3,645 x 0.0929 = 338.6 sq m.
Is katha the same as bigha?
No. Bigha is a larger unit. In most regions, 1 bigha = 20 katha. In West Bengal, 1 bigha = 20 katha = 14,400 square feet (about 0.33 acres). In Bihar, 1 bigha = 20 katha = 27,225 square feet (about 0.625 acres). The two units share the same regional variation problem - always confirm the local definition.
Can I convert square feet back to katha?
Yes. Switch the "Direction" input to "Square Feet to Katha" and enter your square-foot value. The calculator divides by the regional conversion factor to give you katha, plus the equivalent in square meters and acres.
Why does katha vary so much between states?
Katha evolved independently in each region of South Asia before standardised national measurement systems were introduced. Local zamindars (landlords) and colonial administrations used their own definitions, which became entrenched in local land records. Unlike the metre or the acre, katha was never made uniform by a central authority, so the pre-existing regional values persist to this day in official deed documentation.