pkminfotechBigha to Kattha Converter
Convert Bigha, Kattha, Biswa and Gaj to sq ft or acre — with state-wise land standards.
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The Ultimate Guide to Bigha & Kattha Conversion in Indian Real Estate
Deep Historical Analysis, State-wise Calculations, and Mathematical Formulations
If you are buying agricultural land, checking ancestry registry maps (Khesra/Khata books), or dealing with local property transactions in Northern, Eastern, and Western India, you will immediately face traditional units like Bigha, Kattha, and Biswa. Understanding these units is challenging because a Bigha in Bihar is completely different from a Bigha in Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal.
1. The Origin of Bigha and Kattha: A Historical Legacy
The concept of Bigha dates back to pre-colonial India. In medieval times, agricultural land was assessed for taxation based on actual crop yields. During Emperor Akbar's administration, his finance minister, Raja Todar Mal, revolutionized land surveying by introducing a standard measurement rod called the Jarib (made of bamboo joined by iron rings) and the Lagga (measurement pole).
A Bigha was defined as the area of land that could be cultivated by a single farmer with a pair of bullocks in a day. As local administration and ruler configurations changed across different princely states, the length of the Lagga changed. Since a Bigha and its sub-divisions (Kattha, Biswa, Dhur) are direct mathematical squares of the local Lagga size, the absolute size of 1 Bigha varied between districts.
2. The Mathematics: How Local Jarib & Lagga Determine Bigha and Kattha
To understand the calculations used in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, you must understand the Lagga (measured in cubits or *Hath*, where 1 Hath is roughly 1.5 feet or 18 inches):
- Dhur: The basic building block.
1 Dhur = (Lagga length in cubits * 1.5) ^ 2square feet. - Kattha: 1 Kattha contains exactly 20 Dhur.
1 Kattha = 20 * Dhur. - Bigha: 1 Bigha contains exactly 20 Kattha (or 400 Dhur).
1 Bigha = 20 * Kattha.
Let's run a step-by-step example for Patna, Bihar, where a standard Lagga of 5.5 Hath (cubits) is used:
Lagga Length = 5.5 Hath = 5.5 * 1.5 = 8.25 feet
1 Dhur = (8.25) ^ 2 = 68.0625 square feet
1 Kattha = 20 * 68.0625 = 1,361.25 square feet
1 Bigha = 20 * 1,361.25 = 27,225 square feet
However, in districts like Gaya or Munger, the local Lagga can be 6 Hath or 7 Hath, meaning a local Kattha there can exceed 1,600 square feet. This is why our tool provides state-standardized configurations to clear local ambiguity.
3. Regional Classification Table: How States Compare
The table below highlights the standard conversions configured under state revenue department regulations:
| State / Region | Standard Lagga | 1 Bigha in Sq Ft | 1 Bigha in Kattha/Biswa | Equivalent 1 Kattha (Sq Ft) | Acre Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bihar | 5.5 Hath | 27,225 sq ft | 20 Kattha | 1,361.25 sq ft | 0.625 Acres |
| UP (East) | 5.5 Hath | 27,225 sq ft | 20 Biswa | 1,361.25 sq ft | 0.625 Acres |
| UP (West) | 5.47 Hath | 27,000 sq ft | 20 Biswa | 1,350.00 sq ft | 0.619 Acres |
| West Bengal | 4.0 Hath | 14,400 sq ft | 20 Kattha | 720.00 sq ft | 0.330 Acres |
| Assam | 8.0 Hath | 14,400 sq ft | 5 Kattha | 2,880.00 sq ft | 0.330 Acres |
| Punjab & Haryana | N/A | 9,000 sq ft | 20 Biswa | 450.00 sq ft | 0.206 Acres |
4. Pucca Bigha vs. Kucha Bigha: What Buyers Must Know
In western parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand, you will frequently hear the terms Pucca Bigha (also known as Pukka Bigha) and Kucha Bigha (or raw Bigha).
Pucca and Kucha Bigha are local conventions rather than one nationwide legal ratio. Some regions use a Pucca Bigha near 27,225 square feet and may treat a Kucha Bigha as a smaller fraction, but the value can vary by district. When reading mutation papers or inheritance registries, confirm the recorded convention with the local revenue office or deed professional before valuing the plot.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Why is Bigha to Kattha conversion not standard all over India?
Land classification in India is a state subject under the constitution. Since local governments historically used different rods (laggas) for land taxation, regional variations persisted even after the adoption of standard metric systems (hectares and square meters).
Q2: How many Kattha make one Acre?
It depends on the state's Kattha size. For the Bihar figure (about 32 Kattha per acre), use the Bihar Bigha to Square Feet converter. Compare other regions with the table above or open the matching state page.
Q3: What is the relation between Bigha, Kattha, and Dhur?
In the common Bihar-style system, the units follow a base-20 nested multiplier: 1 Bigha = 20 Kattha, and 1 Kattha = 20 Dhur. This means 1 Bigha contains exactly 400 Dhur. Confirm the local convention before relying on this for deeds.
Q4: How do I convert Bigha to Square Yards (Gaj)?
First convert Bigha to square feet for the selected state, then divide by 9. The calculator shows Gaj automatically after you choose a region.
Q5: How do Eastern and Western UP Bigha differ?
Both commonly use 20 Biswa per Bigha, but the square-foot base can differ. Use the Uttar Pradesh converter for East vs West UP details.
Common Bigha and Kattha calculations
Land-unit sizes change by state. Select the correct region before using these common conversions.
1 Bigha in Kattha
In Bihar and West Bengal, 1 Bigha commonly equals 20 Kattha, while Assam commonly uses 5 Kattha.
Bigha to square feet
One Bigha is commonly 27,225 sq ft in Bihar, 27,000–27,225 sq ft in UP, and 14,400 sq ft in West Bengal.
Bigha to acre and Gaj
The calculator converts the selected state’s Bigha value to acre and square yards (Gaj) automatically.