Area Units Guide — sq ft, sq m, Acres, Cents & Grounds
Area measurement varies dramatically across regions. From square feet in the US to square meters in Europe, and from acres in agricultural contexts to cents and grounds in South India — this guide covers them all.
Global Standard Units
Square Meter (m²)
The international standard for area. Used in most countries for property, construction, and engineering. An average Indian apartment is 500–1,500 sq ft or 46–139 m².
Square Foot (ft²)
The dominant unit in the United States and used widely in India for real estate. Estate agents, builders, and buyers in India commonly quote prices per square foot even though it's an imperial unit.
Acre
Equal to 43,560 sq ft or 4,047 m². The primary unit for agricultural land in the US, UK, and India. 1 acre can fit approximately 16 standard cricket pitches.
Hectare
Equal to 10,000 m² or 2.47 acres. The international standard for large land parcels, used in agriculture, forest management, and urban planning worldwide.
Indian-Specific Units
Cent
1 cent = 1/100th of an acre = 435.6 sq ft = 40.47 m². Widely used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh for residential and agricultural land measurement.
Ground
1 ground = 2,400 sq ft = 222.97 m² = 5.51 cents. A common real estate unit in Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Most residential plots are quoted in grounds.
Guntha / Gunta
1 guntha = 1,089 sq ft = 101.17 m². Used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh for agricultural and residential land.
Quick Reference Table
| Unit | sq ft | m² | Cents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 sq m | 10.76 | 1 | 0.025 |
| 1 sq ft | 1 | 0.093 | 0.0023 |
| 1 cent | 435.6 | 40.47 | 1 |
| 1 ground | 2,400 | 222.97 | 5.51 |
| 1 acre | 43,560 | 4,047 | 100 |
| 1 hectare | 107,639 | 10,000 | 247.1 |
🏠 Chennai real estate tip: 1 ground = 2,400 sq ft. So a 3-ground plot = 7,200 sq ft ≈ 669 m². Always verify whether "sq ft" refers to built-up area or carpet area.