Marla Size in Pakistan 2026: 225 vs 250 vs 272.25 Square Feet Explained
Updated October 2026. “5 marla house” is the most common phrase in Pakistani property ads, but a 5 marla plot can be 1,125, 1,250 or 1,361 square feet depending on who measured it. Here is why, and how to compare plots correctly.
Marla converter → Convert marla, kanal, acre, square feet and square yards with the right standard.The three marla standards in Pakistan
| Standard | 1 marla | 1 kanal (20 marla) | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue marla | 272.25 sq ft (30.25 sq yd) | 5,445 sq ft | Land records (fard, jamabandi, inteqal), agricultural and old urban land |
| Housing-authority marla | 225 sq ft (25 sq yd) | 4,500 sq ft | LDA, DHA, CDA and most planned housing schemes |
| Society marla | 250 sq ft | 5,000 sq ft | Bahria Town and some private societies |
The revenue marla comes from the old land-measurement system: 1 acre = 8 kanal = 160 marla = 43,560 sq ft, and 1 marla = 9 sarsai. Housing authorities later adopted round numbers (225 sq ft, a 15 × 15 ft square) to make plot planning simpler.
Same name, different size
| Plot | 225 sq ft marla | 250 sq ft marla | 272.25 sq ft marla |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 marla | 675 sq ft | 750 sq ft | 817 sq ft |
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,250 sq ft | 1,361 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,500 sq ft | 2,723 sq ft |
| 1 kanal | 4,500 sq ft | 5,000 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
A revenue 5 marla plot is about 21% larger than a DHA 5 marla plot. If both are priced at Rs 1 crore, the revenue plot works out to about Rs 7,346 per sq ft and the DHA plot to Rs 8,889 per sq ft.
How to avoid mistakes when buying
- Ask for the size in square feet, plus the frontage and depth (for example 25 × 45 ft).
- Check the document: the fard or registry uses the revenue marla; the allotment letter uses the society’s standard.
- Compare price per square foot, not price per marla.
- Measure on site before paying the token amount.
FAQs
How many square feet are in 1 marla in Lahore? In LDA and DHA schemes, 225 sq ft. In revenue records (for example older areas and land outside schemes), 272.25 sq ft.
How many marla are in an acre? 160 marla (8 kanal).
How many square yards are in a marla? 25 sq yd (225 sq ft marla) or 30.25 sq yd (revenue marla). In Karachi, plots are usually measured directly in square yards.