Marla is among the land measurement units that are common in the Indian subcontinent. The unit, which is most used in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, is not as popular as other local units such as bigha or gaj or international units such as acre or hectare. In these two states, one karam is 5.5 ft while one marla is equal to 9 square karams. 1 Marla is also equal to 9 Sarsahi. 20 marlas are equal to 1 Kanal.
Marla in India is used in two forms, marla and big marla.
The small Marla is equal to 225 sqft, based on the calculation that 1 karam is 5 ft. and 1 sarsahi is 1 karm x 1 karm (25 sqft). This means 9 sarsahi is equal to 1 Marla and one marla is equal to 225 sqft. In case of big marla, 1 karam is equal to 5.5 ft while 1 sarsahi is equal to 30.25 sqft. Hence, 1 marla is equal to 9 sarsahi or 272.25 sqft. A marla is also exactly the one 160th portion of an acre while 1 cent is equal to 1.6 marla.
1 marla | 0.00625 acres |
1 marla | 0.002529285264 hectares |
1 marla | 25.29285264 square meters |
1 marla | 0.00002529285264 square kilometers |
Apart from India, use of Marla as a land measurement unit is also quite common in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The unit, however, denotes varying sizes in India and Pakistan. In Pakistan, for example, 225 square feet means one marla in some areas, including Lahore. In other areas such as in Faisalabad, 1 marla denotes 272 sq. ft of real estate.
During the British rule in India, Marla was standardized to be equal to 272.25 square feet, 30.25 square yards or 25.2929 square metres. Bangladesh follows the same conversion standard as India.
