225 vs 272 Marla: Which Standard Does Your Housing Society Use?
The short answer: revenue records use 272.25 sq ft per marla, while DHA, Bahria Town and most housing societies use 225 sq ft. Same word, ~17% size difference. Here is why both exist, who uses which, and how to make sure you are comparing like with like.
The two marlas, side by side
| Revenue marla | Housing-society marla | |
|---|---|---|
| Square feet | 272.25 | 225 |
| Square yards (gaz) | 30.25 | 25 |
| Used by | Land revenue records, rural/agricultural land, fard & registry | DHA, Bahria Town and most private housing societies |
| 1 kanal in this marla | 20 marla = 5,445 sq ft | 20 marla = 4,500 sq ft |
| 10 marla plot | 2,722.5 sq ft | 2,250 sq ft |
A "10 marla" plot can therefore be 2,250 or 2,722.5 square feet depending on who measured it — a difference bigger than a bedroom. This is the single most common source of confusion in Pakistani property dealing, and most listings never say which one they mean.
Why do two standards exist?
The 272.25 sq ft marla is the old revenue standard: one marla = 1/160th of an acre (43,560 ÷ 160 = 272.25). It lives on in patwari records, fard documents and rural land across Punjab.
The 225 sq ft marla came from developers who wanted rounder numbers: 225 sq ft = exactly 25 sq yards, so a "1 kanal" society plot is a clean 500 sq yards instead of 605. DHA, Bahria Town and the vast majority of private housing schemes plan, market and sell on this standard.
Neither is "wrong" — they are simply two conventions for two different worlds (revenue vs development). The trouble starts when a buyer assumes one and the seller means the other.
Who uses which? A practical guide
| Situation | Almost always |
|---|---|
| DHA (any city), Bahria Town, private housing societies | 225 sq ft marla |
| Revenue record, fard, registry, patwari measurement | 272.25 sq ft marla |
| Agricultural / rural land in Punjab | 272.25 sq ft marla |
| Property portals (Zameen, Graana listings) | Usually 225 for society plots — but verify |
| Sindh / Karachi ("gaz" culture) | Often quoted in square yards directly — convert carefully |
When in doubt, ask the dealer one direct question: "Is this 225 wala marla or 272 wala?" — every property dealer in Pakistan understands exactly what you mean.
How to check your own plot
Your allotment letter, sale deed or registry usually states the area in square feet or square yards alongside the marla figure. The check takes ten seconds:
- Stated area ÷ marla figure ≈ 225 → society standard
- Stated area ÷ marla figure ≈ 272 → revenue standard
Example: your papers say "10 marla — 2,250 sq ft" → 2,250 ÷ 10 = 225 → society standard. If they said 2,722.5 sq ft → revenue standard.
Key takeaways
- 272.25 sq ft = revenue/land-record marla; 225 sq ft = housing-society marla (DHA, Bahria).
- The difference is ~17% — big enough to change a deal's value.
- Check your papers: stated sq ft ÷ marla figure reveals the standard.
- Compare prices per square foot, not per marla, across societies.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in 1 marla?
It depends on the standard: the revenue (land record) marla is 272.25 square feet, while the housing-society marla used by DHA, Bahria Town and most developers is 225 square feet.
Why are there two different marla sizes in Pakistan?
The 272.25 sq ft marla comes from British-era revenue records (1/160 of an acre). Housing societies later adopted a simpler 225 sq ft marla (25 sq yards) for planning — and both systems are still in everyday use.
Which marla standard does DHA use?
DHA and Bahria Town use the 225 sq ft marla (25 sq yards). So a 10 marla plot in DHA is 2,250 sq ft, while 10 revenue marlas would be 2,722.5 sq ft.
How do I check which marla standard my plot uses?
Check your allotment letter, registry (fard) or sale deed — the area in square feet or square yards is usually stated. Divide the stated sq ft by the marla figure: ~225 means society standard, ~272 means revenue standard.
Does the marla difference affect plot price?
Yes — a "10 marla" plot at 225 sq ft/marla is about 17% smaller than at 272.25 sq ft/marla. Always compare prices per square foot (or per marla of the same standard), not just the marla figure.